Galveston County health officials and school administrators are urging families to get the seasonal flu vaccine after an outbreak at an elementary campus and as cases mount across the state.

What started as two staff members and five students being absent Dec. 4 at a Friendswood Elementary quickly developed into 30 people experiencing fevers, including four confirmed flu cases. None of the ill were vaccinated for the flu, county health officials said.

Flu vaccinations aren’t required in Texas schools, and districts generally don’t track who receives them. Friendswood ISD reported the outbreak to public health officials and directed custodial staff members to perform a deep cleaning at the campus as a precaution, officials said.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness from viruses th

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