Alabama health officials have identified two cases of probable swine flu from specimens taken in the Huntsville area, they announced this evening. Dr. Don Williamson, state health officer, and Gov. Bob Riley announced the results in a 6:30 p.m. news conference. The cases are the first identified by the Alabama Department of Public Health as probably being swine flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta will test the specimens to determine for certain whether they are swine flu. The lab work usually takes about a day.
The specimens came from students in Heritage Elementary School in Madison, who appear to be recovering, Williamson said. He said there's a 95 percent probability the strain of influenza identified is swine flu.
The state is recommending Heritage Elementary close for an undetermined amount of time.
He said officials expected swine flu to hit Alabama eventually. "It would have been extraordinarily remarkable if we had avoided a problem everybody else in the country is expected to deal with," Williamson said.
"This is no more severe than regular seasonal influenza," he said.
Gov. Bob Riley said, "We want everyone in Alabama to be concerned but not alarmed."
More from the Birmingham News:
Alabama prepares for worst, prays for best
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Alabama health officials tracking dozens of patients with flu symptoms statewide
Health officials: Masks unneeded at work, but wash hands often, avoid social kisses to evade flu
Stay on top of all the lastest swine flu developments in Birmingham and Alabama with the Birmingham News and Al.com
Alabama Health Department's swine flu Web site
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Here is a Google map of the spread of H1N1 Swine Flu virus. Click on the link at the bottom of the map to see details.
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