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Clark County's swine flu cases up to 6

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By Kelly Mori , Staff Writer Updated 9:36 PM Friday, May 29, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Two additional cases of swine flu from Northridge Middle School have been confirmed, officials announced Friday evening, May 29.

That brings the total in the county to six, five from what the health district has termed the “Northridge Cluster.” The latest cases involve students ages 13 and 14, both of whom experienced the onset of the illness prior to the Memorial Day weekend. The children are recovering at home and did not require hospitalization.

Earlier Friday, Clark County Combined Health District officials confirmed that a 15-year-old Shawnee High School student had tested positive for the virus. That case has no apparent connection to the Northridge Cluster.

Parents in the Clark-Shawnee Local School District are invited to attend an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Sunday at Shawnee High School, Superintendent Debbie Finkes said.

Northridge and Shawnee schools will remain open until the last day of school — June 2 for Northridge and June 3 for Shawnee High School.

However, absences at the Northridge middle and elementary schools jumped to 335 on Friday after a teacher and a 13-year-old student brought the confirmed cases at Northridge to three. Health officials have yet to find any link between the illnesses and any travel to Mexico, Patterson said.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, the county had four suspected cases waiting for results at the Ohio Department of Health. Three new suspected cases at Northridge will not be tested, Patterson said. The Ohio Department of Health said there was no more need to establish that the flu is present in Northridge and that physicians should treat any suspected case as swine flu.

The Health District will open a hot line between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, May 30, for residents with questions or concerns. That number is 937-390-5600.