H1N1 Two Schools
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is working closely with other government agencies, including the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in response to the H1N1 novel influenza virus. Further investigation by MDH has determined that two of Minnesota's cases of probable novel influenza are in persons in two schools. As a result, school officials have decided to close the schools beginning Monday as a precaution. One of the individuals is in Orono High School, which is a campus with two elementary schools and a middle school, all of which will close today. The other probable case is a person at Emerson Spanish Immersion School in Minneapolis. Schools will remain closed until confirmation testing is completed or additional guidance is available, which is expected early this week.

MDH is characterizing these cases as "probable" meaning that the MDH lab has identified the virus as Type A influenza, but the strain can't be confirmed as novel influenza using lab tests currently available to MDH. Additional testing by the Center for Disease Control is needed to determine if the individuals have the new strain of H1N1 influenza. MDH officials expect to see additional cases of the virus and are reminding people that they have a role in controlling the spread of infections like influenza.