NESS CITY (AP) -- Students in a western Kansas school district are getting an unscheduled two-day break because of widespread illness.

Classes in Ness City schools are canceled Wednesday and Thursday because so many students have been out sick.

The Ness County Health Department requested the closings Tuesday. At least 30 percent of the 156 students at Ness City High School have been absent recently.

Superintendent Randall Jansonius says the ailing students have had flu-like symptoms and possibly other ailments.

But officials say no students have been diagnosed with the swine flu virus.

School and health officials say they will take another look at the number of illnesses when classes resume Friday morning.

For more, see Wednesday's Hays Daily News.