Local schools have seen a decline in the number of students with flu-like symptoms, but the Alabama Department of Public Health is still encouraging people to take advantage of the H1N1 vaccine.

“We’re still seeing some (flu) and we know the doctors’ offices are still diagnosing influenza, but we’re not seeing the same impact of absenteeism,” said Alexander City lead school nurse Melanie Sharpton, who said the drop coincided with the schools’ fall break in mid-October.