The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District confirmed that there are two possible cases of swine flu in Champaign County on Wednesday.
Both people who showed symptoms of the disease tested positive for influenza A and have been hospitalized in Urbana, said Julie Pryde, public health administrator for the Public Health District. Pryde said the results of the tests should be known by the end of the week.
“We do expect that at some point we will get confirmed cases in our county,” she added.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 225 confirmed cases of swine flu in Illinois. In a press release, Dr. Damon T. Arnold said there are 20 other probable cases.
On Sunday, the state began doing its own confirmation tests, which meant quicker turnaround on results and large increases in confirmed cases.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Illinois is one of the first states to begin that level of testing, which meant the number of confirmed cases in the state swelled faster than the numbers in other states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tally of confirmed cases showed Illinois with more cases than any other state, and the agency’s count lags about a day behind the state reporting.
The virus has turned out to be milder than feared, and the government decided to change its advice to schools.
Arnold said the Illinois Department of Public Health is working with the CDC to make sure schools know the most recent recommendations for when to close.
“Unnecessary school closures could have a negative socioeconomic impact on communities,” Arnold said in the release.
Health officials said parents still should make sure to keep sick children with flu-like symptoms at home for seven days.
In April, McKinley Health Center issued a press release urging people to be careful and avoid the spread of germs.
University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said there is a committee on campus that prepares for endemic diseases. She said the University has discussed what to do if swine flu were to affect the dorms or campus.
“We’ve had a plan in place for a long time,” Kaler said.
According to the McKinley press release, symptoms of swine flu are similar to the seasonal flu. One may experience a fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches and fatigue.
In order to prevent the spread of the disease, wash hands, avoid contact with people who are sick and cover your mouth when you are coughing of sneezing.
The Associated Press and Hannah Hess contributed to this report.
