Student absences from flu-like symptoms rapidly increased this week in the Iowa Quad-Cities, signaling a possible outbreak of the H1N1 virus, Scott County health officials said.

In Scott County, four schools have reported having 10 percent or more of their students absent for at least one day since Oct. 5, according to Scott County Health Department figures. They include:

Riverdale Heights in the Pleasant Valley School District had a 11 percent to 15 percent daily absenteeism rate between Oct. 5 and Tuesday. The school enrolls about 650 students.

Pleasant Valley Junior High School reported 17 percent of its 600 students were out sick Monday. It has seen a decline during the week, although by Thursday 11 percent of students were absent, said Debbie Menke, the school's dean of students.

Wood Intermediate School in the Davenport School District Monday reported a 10 percent absenteeism rate, which had continued through Thursday. It enrolls about 650 students.

Grant Wood Elementary School in Bettendorf had 11 percent and 12 percent of its 375 students absent Oct. 5 and Oct. 6, respectively.

Figures for schools in the Illinois Quad-Cities were not available Thursday.

A majority of the absent students reported having flu-like symptoms, including sore throats, coughing, fever and headaches. However, few have confirmed cases of H1N1 or any other strain of the flu, because medical workers test only hospitalized individuals. Instead, health and school officials rely on the symptoms parents report to track the illness.

Jackie Hall, spokeswoman with the Scott County Health Department, said typically schools don't see double-digit absenteeism rates until late December, when flu season normally hits. Several area principals said they usually have 5 percent of their students absent at this time of year.

"It's kind of a trigger point that indicates there is possibly some kind of an outbreak," Hall said.

Statewide, the number of influenza-related absences is also on the rise. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Thursday that 56 schools in 23 counties had at least 10 percent of their students absent Monday.

Locally, schools continue to monitor students and combat the spread of germs. Bathrooms and classrooms are equipped with hand sanitizer. Posters cover walls reminding students to wash their hands properly and cover their mouths when they cough. Also, janitors are working more hours, cleaning desks and door handles, among other things, more vigilantly.

Additionally, teachers are working with parents to keep sick students from falling behind in the classroom. For example, Pleasant Valley Junior High School offers students afterschool sessions with teachers, and Wood Intermediate teachers make their lessons available online, among other things.

"It makes a huge impact on classroom learning," said Sheri Schultz, Wood Intermediate principal. "It's so important for kids to be in school and listen to the instruction and the teacher. When they aren't here, we rely on the parents to come in and get assignments."