Apr 29, 2009 3:06 pm US/Eastern
Swine Flu In MA: Confirmed Cases & Pending Tests
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There are currently two confirmed cases of swine flu in Massachusetts and there are a few other towns waiting for test results after residents fell ill with flu-like symptoms.
Read: Swine Flu: What You Need To Know
LOWELL
In Lowell, two siblings, who recently returned from a family trip to Mexico,
were diagnosed with swine flu.
The middle school aged students did not attend public school, and did not return to their private school after their vacation.
The two students are the first confirmed cases of swine flu in New England. Health officials say the children are not hospitalized and are recovering.
SPENCER
In Spencer,
two siblings from the Lake Street Elementary School are being tested for the virus. Ralph Hicks, superintendent of the Spencer East Brookfield Regional School District, said the students became sick after taking a trip to Mexico. They complained Tuesday of fevers, sore throats and belly aches.
"I know that the nurse was concerned enough to call the mother and say you need to take them to the doctor," Hicks said.
A letter was sent home to parents at the Lake Street School, making them aware of the situation. Classrooms, common areas, and the sick students' school bus have all been disinfected.
BROCKTON
In Brockton, a patient is being tested for swine flu after coming down with flu-like symptoms. Health officials said that person had recently traveled to Mexico. Tests from that case are expected Wednesday.
STATE-WIDE
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach and Dr. Al DeMaria, director of Communicable Disease Control, said Monday that dozens of other people have been tested for swine flu, with negative results.
The state expects to have its own equipment to test for swine flu by next week, which should speed up the testing process. The CDC results for the Lowell students took a couple of days to be returned.
The Massachusetts Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a pandemic flu preparation bill that includes a provision to allow the public health commissioner -- under emergency conditions -- to close or evacuate buildings, enter private property for investigations, and quarantine individuals. The bill now moves to the House.
BOSTON
Dr. Anita Barry of the Boston Public Health Commission says the city's hospitals are on high alert, watching for signs of swine flu. They track whether swine flu has entered the state by monitoring emergency room visits and checking what kinds of illnesses patients are being treated for. She believes it's just a matter of time before the flu arrives in Boston. "There has been a tremendous geographic variation in a short period of time," Barry said.
The state of Massachusetts expects to receive antiviral treatments next week from the federal government.
Nationwide, there has been one death and at least 94 confirmed cases of swine flu in 11 states.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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