Alabama's First Confirmed Swine Flu Case

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama health officials say they have
discovered five more probable cases of swine flu.
The Alabama Department of Public Health also says the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the state's first
case of swine flu.
At least three of the eight probable cases of swine flu were
identified as students of Heritage Elementary School in Madison,
Ala. The city's school system says it will close its elementary
schools until May 14.
Local health officials plan to announce at a 1 p.m. news
conference Sunday whether other schools in north Alabama will also
extend their closures.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's Department of Health says the
state is monitoring nine probable cases of swine flu, in addition
to two confirmed cases.
The state confirmed Friday its first two cases of swine flu: a
17-year-old girl from Broward County and an 11-year-old boy from
Lee County.
The number of probable cases is up one from Friday. The state's
surgeon general says she hopes to hear more about those cases later
Saturday.
The nine individuals range in age from 7 to 75; five are male
and four are female. They are in eight counties: Lee, Orange,
Indian River, Alachua, Pinellas, Okeechobee, Miami-Dade and Palm
Beach.
Officials say a hot line set up to take questions has received
more than 700 calls. The number is: 1-800-342-3557.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - State Health Officer Doctor Ed Thompson
said there's still no confirmed case of swine flu, but officials
are well-prepared if the virus spreads to Mississippi.
Thompson, during a Friday briefing, said swine flu has been
confirmed in 11 countries. According to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and other
government officials, there are 149 confirmed cases in the U.S.,
and 567 worldwide.
There were 15 confirmed deaths in Mexico and one confirmed in
the U.S., a toddler from Mexico who died in Texas.