MURMANSK, Russia -- Authorities in the far northern Russian city of Murmansk have closed all schools in the region due to an outbreak of influenza, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
Secondary schools in the region were closed on October 20 as the number of students hit by the flu virus increased drastically.
Today, it was decided to send all students in the region on fall break early as the flu continued to spread.
Murmansk Oblast Education and Science Minister Vasily Kostukevich told RFE/RL it is the first time such precautions have been taken.
Currently, all the schools in the region are under the control of health officials.
No cases of swine flu have been reported.