SAVANNAH, GA (WCBD) – The Lowcountry is starting to see an uptick in the flu, especially in our schools.

The numbers vary from district-to-district, but officials confirm within the last two school days more than 200 elementary students were out sick.

School officials in Screven County hope this is the peak of their flu season. The superintendent says the increase in absences is unusual.

“222 absences yesterday and 227 absences today, but that’s out of 1,209 students,” said William Bland. “We normally run about 5-percent, so it’s about 13-percent more than we normally have.”

Screven County officials are taking preventative measures to disinfect their buildings and aggressively combat germs.

“The disinfectants, the sprays and so-forth… we are running the fresh air units 24/7 to keep fresh air coming in the building. We have hand sanitizer units in every room that we encourage the kids to use anything they go in and out of the doors. We teach them to cough into their sleeve and so we’re doing everything we can.”

The flu is impacting schools across the coastal empire and Lowcountry.