Apr 25, 2009 1:15 pm US/Pacific
Officials: 8 NYC Students Probably Have Swine Flu
Department Of Health Officials Tests 75 Students At St. Francis Preparatory School In Queens
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
At least eight students at a high school in New York City probably have human swine influenza, but authorities don't know for sure whether they have the strain that has killed people in Mexico.
City health officials say more than 100 students at the private St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens have come down with a fever, sore throat and other aches and pains.
New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden says a government lab needs to do more testing before authorities can pinpoint which strain of flu the students have.
Results are not expected until Sunday.
The symptoms in New York have all been mild and no students have been hospitalized, but the illnesses have caused concern because of an outbreak of a strain in Mexico responsible for as many as 68 deaths.
There are mounting fears about a deadly swine flu virus that is reported to have killed as many as 60 people in Mexico, one that health officials fear has already seeped into the United States.
St. Francis Prep was ordered to cancel an evening program Friday night because the New York City Department of Health isn't sure what made students sick Thursday and Friday with flu-like symptoms.
"I just saw lot a lot of kids lined up along the wall near the nurse's office," sophomore Kelsey Dittmeir said.
If it's the flu, the question is what kind of flu? And could it be the unique strain suspected in 20 recent deaths?
"It could be a strain we've seen before. It could be the regular flu," Dr. Ross Weiss said. "It could be flu B that happens late in the year. It could be any of those so we really can't speculate at this point. That's why we were very anxious to get samples to the lab and get them tested so we can find out what we are dealing with."
If it's the new strain of swine flu it could be a problem. Most cases have been reported in Mexico, where schools, museums and public gathering places have been closed.
Eight patients have also turned up in California and Texas, although their symptoms have been mild.
Students told CBS station WCBS-TV they plan on getting tested over the weekend. One senior we spoke to said she left school Thursday before her fellow classmates got ill.
"My chest just hurts and I have shortness of breath. My ears were hurting me earlier but they are okay now. My head is still in and out," Noel Alexandria said.
Added Dr. Weiss: "There were people tonight interviewing students and we'll be here tomorrow. And when we get the test results that will dictate what our next steps are."
The city hopes to identify those symptoms as flu it has seen before. If the tests come back negative they will be sent down to the Centers for Disease Control. So far, officials have been told all the cases have shown mild symptoms.
The NY State Department of Health has set up a hot line number for residents who have questions about the swine influenza. That number is 1-800-808-1987.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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