Two north Alabama school systems are closing schools this week due to the flu outbreak.

Cullman County schools will be closed Thursday and Friday because of the flu epidemic, Superintendent Shane Barnette said today in a letter to parents.

Barnette said schools in the district are already seeing "a high number of student and employee absences." He noted that Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a state of emergency.

Barnette said he understands dismissing school "creates a hardship on many of our parents," but said the health and safety of students must be his top priority.

Marshall County Schools also will be closed Thursday through Friday and next Monday and Tuesday due to a high number of student and employee absences from the flu.

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Cindy Wigley said parents can send children to school Wednesday to allow time to make childcare arrangements. Schools will be closed from Feb. 8 until Feb. 13.

"I understand dismissing school creates a hardship on many of our parents. However, the health and safety of our students must continue to be my number one priority. At this time, the epidemic is not only having an impact on our students but also our staff, preventing us from effectively serving our students," Wigley said. "Given the short notice, teachers will prepare as much as possible for assignments to be completed at home."

Attendance policies will be flexible and written parent notes will be accepted, she said. Also, the semester test requirement due to absences will be waived until levels of flu activity subside, she said.

Sick students should not return to school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours.

Wigley said some of the schools' efforts to prevent the flu have been teaching proper handwashing and cough etiquette, separating sick children from the others until parents are able to pick them up and disinfecting hard surfaces throughout the day.

Besides getting the flu shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging people to follow these guidelines to avoid catching the flu virus:

Stay away from people who are sick.

If your child is sick with the flu illness, try to keep him or her in a separate room from others in the household, if possible.

CDC recommends that your sick child stay home for at least 24 hours after his or her fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine. People with the flu may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after it has been used.

Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.

Clean and disinfect hard surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs. The flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on a surface.

Marshall County is part of the North Alabama district recognized by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The North Alabama district has reported the most flu-related deaths so far this flu season with 12 people reported to have died.

Updated at 12:15 p.m. with Cullman County schools closing

Al.com reporter Lee Roop contributed to this story