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2 Swine Flu Cases At Palolo School

Maui Records 1st Case Of Illness

POSTED: 10:10 am HST May 13, 2009
UPDATED: 5:11 am HST May 14, 2009

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Hawaii health officials on Wednesday confirmed four new of the swine flu. Two of those cases are from Anuenue School in Palolo, school officials said.

Three of the cases of H1N1 Influenza A were confirmed by the Hawaii DOH laboratory in Pearl City. The fourth case was confirmed by the Washington State Public Health Laboratory.

The one patient confirmed in Washington state is a Maui resident who traveled to the Northwest and became ill there. The patient has recovered and is finishing an isolation period before returning to the Valley Isle.

The cases confirmed in Hawaii are two adults and an adolescent from Oahu. None of them traveled recently, officials said.

One adult and one student of the Hawaiian emersion school are patients. School officials notified students on Wednesday.

"We have identified swine influenza H1N1 affecting a student and an adult. The Department of Health is currently investigating these two case and there will be appropriate follow up with all individuals at the school who have had contact or come down with flu like illness," Hawaii Health Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said.

The flu victims became ill last week and are now recovering.

"Both students and adult worker at Anuenue School are home under doctors care and are being monitored by the Department of Health and both are doing well and should be returning to school shortly," Anuenue School Principal Charles Naumu said.

Officials stress there are no plans to shut down any schools in Hawaii and the standard flu precautions remain in effect.

"The numbers are not as important at this point as the severity of the illness and recovery of the cases. We continue to urge people to follow recommendations and stay at home if they are sick, wash hands frequently, and cover your cough," Fukino said.

Health officials are working to find people who have been in contact with the patients and test them for the flu.

Three other people have suffered H1N1 flu in Hawaii, but they were visitors and are counted in their home states, not in Hawaii's tally, officials said.

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