Ten Nogales schools close due to Swine Flu

8 cases have been confirmed in Arizona as of right now.
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Ten public schools in the southeastern border city of Nogales are closing for a week as a precaution after a student tested positive for swine flu.

Shawn McCollough, superintendent of the Nogales Unified School District, said the student who got swine flu is now recovered. The student attends Bracker Elementary School.

McCollough says county health officials recommended the district close that school and a neighboring school for a week, but the district decided to close all of its schools as an extra precaution. Students will return to class May 11.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says 18 people are infected with swine flu in the state. Several schools have been temporarily closed in the Phoenix metro area as swine flu cases have been identified.

But Maricopa County public health Director Dr. Bob England said Saturday he would stop ordering the closure of schools where students or teachers test positive for swine flu because the new virus appears much less dangerous than first feared.

England said no more schools in the county will be closed unless there's a widespread outbreak or the virus changes and illnesses become more severe.

Tucson Unified Schools District officials are taking the same approach.

District spokeswoman Chyrl Hill Lander said Sunday that although one student was infected at Safford Magnet Middle School, the child has since recovered.

She said county health officials told district officials that school attendance does not place a student at any more risk than any other public activity, and that no schools will be closed in the district.

Nationwide, the tally of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States jumped Sunday to 245 in 35 states, but officials said that's largely from catching up on a backlog of lab tests rather than a sudden spurt in new infections.

The only swine flu death in the U.S. is that of a Mexican toddler who was visiting Texas.
MORE INFORMATION ON SWINE FLU:

Preparedness - http://www.wearepublichealth.org

CDC web site on Swine Flu - http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

Statewide - http://www.azdhs.gov

Maricopa County - http://www.maricopa.gov/Public_Health/