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Illinois SF - tracking (41 Probable H1N1 cases ; 16 identified)
Swine flu closes local school
April 29, 2009
A probable case of swine flu has prompted the closure of a North Side elementary school.
In an e-mail message this morning, CPS spokeswoman Monique Bond said the closure of Kilmer Elementary School, 6700 N. Greenview Ave., was "a result of the swine influenza." But she would not say whether the closure was precautionary or if there were one or more reported swine flu cases.
Contacted by the Tribune this morning, Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman declined to comment.
A source confirmed the probable case to the Tribune. It was not known if it was a student, a teacher or some other staff member.
City public school and health officials will hold a 7 a.m. news conference to discuss Kilmer's closing. The school is in a heavily Hispanic populated area of the Rogers Park neighborhood.
Huberman and Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Terry Mason are attending the news conference, officials said.
Kilmer's student population of 850 is 60 percent Hispanic, according to latest figures available on the CPS Web site. It has a teaching staff of 46.
Mason said Tuesday there were no confirmed cases of swine flu in the city, but he expected that to change. He made the prediction based on what he's seen about the progression of swine flu elsewhere.
He said that with a case being reported in northern Indiana, it's only a matter of time before it hits locally.
"I expect we will have cases, but I don't know what that number will be," Mason said.
The first U.S. death from swine flu was confirmed today -- a 23-month-old child in Texas.
Mason said people should be on guard and take preventive measures such as constant hand washing with soap and water and boosting immune systems with water, vegetables and sleep. He said that officials are taking efforts to make sure that if the illness hits the area, it is contained.
According to the Associated Press, 159 deaths in Mexico could be related to swine flu. Seven of those people who died had the virus and the rest were suspected of contracting it.
In the U.S. nearly 70 confirmed cases have been reported.
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