Work To Contain Swine Flu Continues

PHILADELPHIA - Nearly 150 Americans now have confirmed cases of swine flu, officials said Friday.

Some 400 schools nationwide have shut their doors in an effort to protect students from the spreading illness.

The government said it will have enough vaccines for everyone, but the doses won't be available until the fall.

President Barack Obama said Friday the swine flu may "run its course" like ordinary flus, but the government is preparing for the worst "just in case."

Locally, there are 11 confirmed cases of the swine flu. Four are in Delaware and seven are in New Jersey.

Also, there are 24 probable cases for which officials are still awaiting confirmation from a federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory.

Of those, six probable cases are in Pennsylvania, one is in New Jersey, and 17 are in Delaware -- an increase from the 12 reported there Thursday.

All of those Delaware cases have occurred at the University of Delaware in Newark. Numerous weekend events, including a track meet, have now been cancelled, and a CDC team is at the scene.

Health officials said any students who would have spread the swine flu have already done so.

Fox 29 News talked to one student who likely has the illness Thursday night. She said the sickness wasn't as bad as some flus she's had in the past.

"People need to realize that it's just the flu. It's not going to kill you if you're healthy. I think people just need to relax," she said over the phone.

The student said she plans to return to classes on Monday.

Three of New Jersey's five confirmed cases involve a father, son and daughter from one family in Mount Laurel, Burlington County. They contracted the virus after a trip to Mexico, and all three have recovered.

The father issued a statement Friday that read: "We want to stress to the public that our illness was very mild. The actual symptoms were fever of 99 to 101 degrees, dry cough, and slight body aches that lasted three days."

It was business as usual at the schools where the two children attend. The brother and sister have been cleared to return to school, but their parents chose to keep them home Friday. They said they didn't want to cause panic among other parents or staff.

New Jersey's health commissioner told Fox 29 News on Friday morning there is nothing to fear.

"Once the disease passes and your symptoms are done, there is no communicability," he said. "You don't have to worry about a thing. So, I mean people may have some concerns about things, but they're unfounded."

Pennsylvania's six latest cases involve a 39-year-old woman, a 46-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man from Philadelphia as well as two men from Montgomery County, ages 31 and 28.

Test results for a 2-year-old Philadelphia boy -- the state's first reported probable case -- are due back soon.

The 31-year-old male, from Bridgeport, became ill on or around April 27. He returned from Mexico days prior to reporting signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness to a local clinic, officials said.

The 28-year-old, who has the latest identified patient, told officials he has not traveled in the past month and does not know of any contact he has had with an ill person.

Swine flu will also stop nearly two dozen Pennsylvania students from attending their own college graduations.

22 students from the Pittsburgh area who just returned from Mexico will not be allowed to attend graduation ceremonies on Saturday. The Slippery Rock University seniors were in Mexico working as student teachers and said they are, of course, disappointed.

So far, none of those students have shown symptoms of the swine flu.

Authorities have said there is no reason for panic but ask people to continue practicing healthy habits, such as washing your hands regularly.

The CDC said taking public transportation does not increase your risk of catching swine flu.

But Continental Airlines has, as a precaution, cut its number of flights to Mexico, where the outbreak is the worst.