Swan Quarter, N.C. -- Three schools closed until Monday because of an outbreak of flu-like symptoms that has spread across the state over the past two weeks.

All 541 students in the Hyde County schools were told to stay home Wednesday through Friday after attendance dropped 20 percent early in the week, school system spokeswoman Carol Evans said Thursday. Some students had symptoms of influenza Type B.

Hyde County's health director recommended the school closings "to give these students a break to get to the doctor and to stay home and quit passing the germs back and forth," Evans said.

Evans said she didn't recall any other such school closings.

"I've been here 32 years, and I don't remember shutting down for illness," Evans said. "We've had to shut down for boiler problems, hurricanes and flooding."

To prevent further spread of the illnesses around the state, a total of four hospitals in Greensboro, Durham and Tarboro urged most visitors to stay away.

"While you can never totally prevent spread of an illness, you can certainly limit infection by taking proper precautions," said Dr. Jeffrey Engel, the state epidemiologist. "In this instance, our best advice is: wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands."