Missouri health authorities confirm four more cases of H1N1 flu

Four more cases of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, were confirmed in Missouri over the weekend, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services.

Three cases were found among adolescents in the St. Louis suburbs and a fourth was found in a child in Kansas City. The new illnesses bring the total confirmed and probable cases in Missouri to 18.

The new H1N1 strain of swine flu causes the same symptoms as the common seasonal flu -- cough, sore throat, fever, body aches, chills and fatigue.

The new cases were found Friday and Saturday during testing on specimens at the State Public Health Laboratory in Jefferson City. The specimens were sent from throughout the state by doctors whose patients reported flu-like symptoms.

The cases involved an adolescent boy and girl in St. Charles County, an adolescent girl in St. Louis County and a male child in the Jackson County portion of Kansas City. They bring the number of swine flu cases to three in each jurisdiction.

Missouri now has 14 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection and four cases that are still considered probable. The cases so far have been limited to five counties -- Jackson, Platte, Howard, St. Charles and St. Louis. Nationwide, the virus has sickened at least 2,618 people in 43 states.

Missouri health officials said parents and school officials should not be overly concerned by a few cases of swine flu among school-age children. Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that school closure is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of the new flu virus.

Cases of H1N1 flu should be handled the same as for outbreaks of seasonal flu. School closure is advised only if faculty or student absenteeism is so high that it interferes with the school's ability to function.

For updated information on the H1N1 virus, check the Web site of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/.