Michigan has 6 new probable cases of swine flu

DAVID EGGERT, Associated Press Writer

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: May 1, 2009 at 1:27 PM EST

Story Updated: May 1, 2009 at 4:45 PM EST

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan officials said Friday the state has six new probable cases of swine flu in Ottawa County west of Grand Rapids.

The cases will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. The federal government so far has confirmed two cases in Michigan, one in Ottawa County and one in Livingston County northwest of Detroit. The number of confirmed cases in the United States was 149.

"We expect to see new cases," Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski said in a conference call with reporters. "We see new cases in other states. This is not surprising."

State officials said they had no details on the six cases, such as travel histories or whether the people know each other. The Ottawa County Health Department planned a news conference later Friday.

Olszewski said Michigan has enough anti-viral drugs to respond to the outbreak of H1N1 influenza A.

A Lansing-area charter school was closed Friday after a first-grader became ill with flu-like symptoms Thursday. The test came back negative for swine flu, and the school will reopen Monday.

A Grand Rapids-area district closed two schools while awaiting tests. One will reopen Monday because a kindergartner tested negative Friday.

Oakland University north of Detroit and Mott Community College in Flint said students graduating Saturday will not get the customary handshake when they receive their diploma, as a precaution to prevent the spread of swine flu.

The CDC is shipping Michigan kits so it can confirm H1N1 cases on its own. That should lead to quicker results. But Olszewski said it would take 10 to 14 days after receiving the kits next week until the state can do the tests. That is because the kits must be tested once they arrive, state spokesman James McCurtis said.

For now, if the state lab determines a sample is an untypeable strain of influenza A, it rules it a "probable" case of swine flu and asks the CDC for confirmation.

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