Swine flu moving fast

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Swine flu cases turn up in NYC, Kansas

By VERENA DOBNIK – 23 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP) — At least eight students at a New York City high school probably have human swine influenza, but health officials said Saturday they don't know for sure whether they have the same virus that has killed scores of people in Mexico. At least two cases of the flu have been confirmed in Kansas.

A strain of the flu has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico. The World Health Organization chief said Saturday the strain has "pandemic potential" and it may be too late to contain a sudden outbreak.

New York health officials said more than 100 students at the private St. Francis Preparatory School, in Queens, had come down with a fever, sore throat and other aches and pains in the past few days. Some of their relatives have also been ill.

New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said nose and throat swabs had confirmed that eight students had influenza type A, indicating probable cases of swine flu, but the exact subtypes were still unknown.

Samples had been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for more testing. Results were expected on Sunday.

In Topeka, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed two cases of swine flu. A department spokeswoman said additional details would be released at a news conference later Saturday.

At least eight swine flu cases also have been reported in California and Texas.

The symptoms in the New York cases have all been mild and no students have been hospitalized, Frieden said, but the illnesses have caused concern because of the deadly outbreak in Mexico.

Frieden said that if the CDC confirms that the students have swine flu, he will likely recommend that St. Francis Preparatory remain closed on Monday out of an abundance of caution.

The city health department has also asked doctors to be extra vigilant in the coming days and test any patients who have flu-like symptoms and have traveled recently to California, Texas or Mexico.

He said New Yorkers having trouble breathing due to an undiagnosed respiratory illness should seek treatment, but shouldn't become overly alarmed. Medical facilities in the part of Queens near St. Francis Prep, he said, had already been flooded with people overreacting to the outbreak.

Overall, flu cases have been declining in the city in recent weeks and months as the flu season abated, Frieden said.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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2 swine flu cases confirmed in Kansas

49 minutes ago

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has confirmed two cases of swine flu in the state.

A department spokeswoman said additional details would be released at a news conference later Saturday.

New York City officials announced Saturday that eight students at a high school in Queens probably have swine flu, but they're unsure of the strain type. Swine flu cases also have been reported in California and Texas.

A strain of the flu has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico. The World Health Organization chief said Saturday that the strain has "pandemic potential" and it may be too late to contain a sudden outbreak.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) — At least eight students at a New York City high school probably have human swine influenza, but authorities don't know whether they have the strain that has killed people in Mexico.

City health officials say more than 100 students at the private St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens have come down with a fever, sore throat and other aches and pains.

New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden says a government lab needs to do more testing before authorities can pinpoint which strain of flu the students have.

Results are not expected until Sunday.

The symptoms in New York have all been mild and no students have been hospitalized, but the illnesses have caused concern because of an outbreak of a strain in Mexico responsible for as many as 68 deaths.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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New possible case of swine flu identified in Texas
© 2009 The Associated Press
April 25, 2009, 3:14PM

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A Texas high school where two students are confirmed to have swine flu is temporarily closing after a new possible case of swine flu was identified there, state health officials announced Saturday.

Carrie Williams, a state Department of Health Services spokeswoman in Austin, confirmed Saturday that another student in Guadalupe County near San Antonio is now believed to have the illness.

Williams said lab tests have not confirmed the potential case.

Because of the outbreak, Williams said officials were temporarily closing Byron Steele High School in Cibolo for classes next week. She did not give any other details.

The illness sickened two high school students at the school and a 10-year-old boy from San Diego who visited Dallas before his diagnosis. All three have recovered and are fine.

As many as 68 people in Mexico have died of swine flu, while more than 1,000 others have become ill.

Gov. Rick Perry announced Saturday that because of the outbreak he was asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give Texas 37,430 courses of antiviral medications from the Strategic National Stockpile to prevent the spread of swine flu.

"As a precautionary measure, I have requested that medication be on hand in Texas to help curb the spread of swine flu by helping those with both confirmed and suspected cases of this swine flu virus, as well as health care providers who may have come in contact with these patients," Perry said in a statement. "We will continue to work with our local, state and federal health officials to ensure public safety is protected."