StarBulletin.com

13 more flu cases confirmed in state


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POSTED: Thursday, May 28, 2009

The list of public schools on Oahu with confirmed cases of swine flu is growing, but the cases are scattered and reportedly mild.

Kalani High School, Kipapa Elementary, Nanakuli Elementary and Niu Valley Middle School all had their first confirmed case. Iliahi Elementary had its second case.

They were among 13 new cases of H1N1 influenza A confirmed on Oahu yesterday by the state Health Department's Laboratories Division.

Seven were school-age children, including five in public schools.

Three of the school-age cases had no identified contacts with a confirmed case, two were associated with separate confirmed cases and two are pending follow-up, the Health Department said.

Other cases included an infant in contact with a previously confirmed case and five adults.

One adult acquired the virus out of state, one had contact with a confirmed case, two had no identified association with a previous case and one case is pending follow-up, the Health Department said.

The state has had a total of 71 cases since the first three were confirmed May 5. They include 68 on Oahu, two on the Big Island and a Maui resident who became ill and was hospitalized on the mainland before returning home.

No serious illness has been reported among Hawaii's H1N1 cases.

Campuses were disinfected and letters sent to parents of students at schools with confirmed cases, the Department of Education said. Iliahi Elementary notified parents on the school Web site.

The Health Department again reminds people to stay home if they're sick and contact a doctor if they have a sore throat, cough and fever higher than 100 degrees.

Health care guidelines are available on www.hawaii.gov/health or call 211.