Student in New Bloomfield tests positive for swine flu

By JONATHON BRADEN, Columbia Daily Tribune

Callaway County has at least one confirmed case of the swine flu virus, a health administrator said this morning.

Sharon Lynch, administrator of the Callaway County Health Department, said officials confirmed Thursday that a New Bloomfield High School student had the H1N1 flu strain, more commonly known as swine flu.

As of this morning, Lynch said, she knew of one confirmed case and a second possible case involving a family member of the student.

“There were some others that were being tested,” Lynch said. “I haven’t got any of that information back.”

Lynch said the announcement should not cause worry. “At this point, the flu and the mortality rates are not even as high as normal flus,” she said.

The student and the possibly infected relative were advised to stay home for seven days, or 24 hours after symptoms ease, whichever is longer. The student had been attending summer school classes, Lynch said.

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