Confirmed Illinois swine flu cases increase with test

By Alissa Groeninger

Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director, reported that there are 82 confirmed cases and 40 probable cases of swine flu in Illinois.

This is an increase from the nine confirmed cases reported yesterday, as the department has been able to provide confirmatory testing.

“The large increase in the number of confirmed cases was expected and is not cause for alarm. It does not mean there is a dramatic increase of the H1N1 flu in Illinois communities, it simply means we are now able to perform confirmatory testing at the state level and can therefore obtain confirmed results more quickly,” Arnold said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) granted Illinois the ability to perform confirmatory testing over the weekend. Illinois is one of two states who have been given permission by CDC.

Before testing could be done in the state, specimens needing to be tested had to be send directly to CDC.

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