Gulf Coast Samples Sent For Testing

Friday 5:45 p.m.
News Five has learned at least one out of every six samples being tested in Montgomery for Swine Flu have come from the Gulf Coast.

According to local health officials, at least 33 samples have been sent from Mobile County, six from Baldwin County, three from Escambia County and one from Washington County.

David Mann of the Mobile County Health Department says he is still waiting for results from the tests.

Friday 11 a.m.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has announced a fourth "probable" case of Swine Flu.
The postitive test came from a student attending Heritage Elementary School near Huntsville, which is the same school where the first two cases were found.

The sample will now be sent to the CDC in Atlanta to be re-tested, but officials are 95% sure the test will confirm the results.

Health officials have received at least 200 samples for testing in the last 48 hours. Of all of the samples received since the outbreak, Alabama officials have announced results of only 40 of them.

The third probable case was discovered Thursday. A Montgomery County resident in their 20's tested positve for the virus.

Friday 10:15 a.m.
The Alabama Department of Public Health will hold its next Swine Flu update at 11 a.m. We are expecting new numbers on the virus. Watch the news conference live on WKRG.com.

Thursday 6:38 p.m.
State Health Department says there is now a 3rd "probable" case of swine influenza in Alabama. A Montgomery County resident in their 20's tested positive for swine flu.
The sample will now be sent to the CDC in Atlanta to be re-tested. There is a 5% chance the test will come back negative.

Thursday 6:00 p.m.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has scheduled a Swine Flu news conference for 6:30 this evening. Watch it live on WKRG.com.

Thursday 10:15 a.m.
High school teams are allowed to continue practicing despite all school sporting events being cancelled, according to Gerry Strang, Athletic Director at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile.

Wednesday night, the Alabama High School Athletic Association announced it is shutting down all high school athletic events, including playoff games, until further notice due to probable cases of swine flu in North Alabama.

Thursday 8:30 a.m.
Alabama health officials say they are "literally being overwhelmed" with new samples for Swine Flu testing.

During a press conference Thursday morning, Dr. Donald Williamson of the Department of Public Health said they have received more than 75 new samples in the last 24 hours.

Wednesday, health officials announced the first two "probable cases" of the virus. Two students from Heritage Elementary School near Huntsville tested positive for the illness.

Williamson says there is no indication that the children had traveled recently to Mexico. He says health officials are recommending that the school be closed for at least seven days as a precaution.

Williamson says there is a 5% chance follow-up tests at the CDC in Atlanta could be negative.

The total number of samples tested by Alabama health officials is more than 100. Only results from 26 of those tests have been released.