SYRACUSE -- Custodians are cleaning a lot more at Porter Magnet School in the Syracuse City School District and others across the county. High target areas include handrails, desktops and doorknobs.

The county is tracking a sudden spike in sick students and faculty by mandating school officials fill out forms each day. Tthe purpose is to keep tabs on those sent home. Hundreds across the county are sick with symptoms. Even as attendance in some schools drop, Health officials aren't recommending they close. Health Commissioner Dr. Cynthia Morrow says, "If you look at the experience in the Spring, closing the school didn't do much. It didn't stop transmission, and yet it caused a significant social disruption and there is potential harm if you have a child whose parents don't have a care plan."

Dr. Morrow expected the hit in attendance, but says a lack of H1N1 vaccine isn't helping. In the meantime, the custodians will keep cleaning the schools, but officials advise there's only so much they can do, the rest is up to parents and children. Brian Warren, the head custodian at Porter School says, "Hand washing, hand sanitizer, good hygiene."

Onondaga County health officials say they don't have a firm date of when they expect the H1N1 vaccine to arrive for students, but say they are working with the state and estimate it should be available sometime in November.