Swine flu test positive in Utah

PARK CITY — The first case of swine flu has been confirmed in Utah, officials announced Saturday morning at a press conference at the Park City Library.

The Utah Department of Health on Sunday reported four new, probable cases of Influenza A, H1N1, all in Summit County, bringing the statewide total to 1 confirmed and 13 probable cases of residents infected with the novel virus.

Utah's new cases are part of an international uptick in infection figures, with 264 new, confirmed cases added globally in the last 24 hours, including 66 new confirmations in the U.S., according to the World Health Organization.

WHO reports worldwide totals as of Sunday afternoon are 898 confirmed cases, with 226 of those in the U.S.

A school-age child from Park City contracted the disease after traveling to Mexico over spring break but has fully recovered, said Steve Jenkins, director of the Summit County Health Department.

The confirmation came after officials sent swabs to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing.

"The Health Department is working closely with local agencies ... in response and control of this disease," Jenkins said. "We are continually evaluating the situation and updating our plans accordingly."

With the positive confirmation, the Park City School District, which closed after school on April 29, will remain closed at least until May 10 to reduce other possible transmission of the virus, said Tom VanGorder, the district's director of student services.

There are nine other probable cases of the flu in Utah plus the one confirmed case, said David Sundwall, executive director of the Utah Department of Health. The results from those tests are expected during the weekend.

Of the nine probable cases, six are from Summit County, two cases are from Salt Lake County and one case is from the Weber-Morgan Health District.

"Common sense tells me this is the tip of the iceberg," Sundwall said.

However, Sundwall said this is not a cause for panic as the flu seems to be behaving like the common seasonal flu. He was to speak with Utah's 12 health departments Saturday to discuss individual responses to the confirmation.

"Thus far this has been relatively mild," Sundwall said. "This is a novel, new influenza that will play out over time as we develop a significant pool of immunity."

Utah is also slated to receive some equipment from the CDC to enable health officials to test probable flu samples in the state, rather than sending them to Atlanta, Sundwall said.

Utah is one of 22 states with confirmed cases of H1N1. The lone death occurred in Texas.