America's North Shore Journal

The news is beginning to report scattered cases of swine flu, pandemic flu, novel H1N1 in various states where schools have opened for the fall.

Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, California – 8 cases

As of Tuesday, August 11, it has been confirmed that seven Granite Bay High School students have contracted the H1N1 strain of flu (also known as the Swine flu). In addition we are aware of about a dozen students who have been kept home or have been sent home due to feeling ill with flu-like symptoms. It is important to note that we have students who have the flu that has been confirmed to NOT be the H1N1 strain.

After eight of their classmates came down with confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, students at Granite Bay High were taking swine-flu fears in stride this week – but with plenty of precaution mixed in for good measure.

“I have like, 12 of those little hand wipes in my backpack,” said Kevin Ranger, a junior.

All of the affected Granite Bay students had mild cases and were expected to make a full recovery, said Steve Williams, the district’s pupil personnel director. One other confirmed case was reported this week at Antelope High School, he said.

“Some of these kids have already begun to make their way back, but we’re keeping more or less a running tally,” Williams said.

It wasn’t clear whether the outbreak of the novel flu form was ramping up or on its way out. Officials say they think the first cases originated at a band camp before school started on Monday. It’s since spread to students who weren’t among the 130 at the event.

About 39 other students at Granite Bay were at home with flu-like symptoms on Thursday, including a fever, cough and sore throat, officials said, but they cautioned those were not confirmed cases of H1N1. The school was communicating with families through phone calls, letters and its Web site, at www.granitebayhigh.org.

Roseville Press Tribune

Hilsman Middle School, Athens, Georgia – 1 case

A Hilsman Middle School student was diagnosed with H1N1 swine flu over the weekend – the first reported case of swine flu among Athens public school students, a Clarke County School District spokeswoman said.

The student’s parents notified a teacher at the Eastside school Sunday, school district spokeswoman Anisa Sullivan Jimenez said Wednesday.

“The parents knew to follow protocol and not bring the child to school on Monday,” Jimenez said.

Athens Banner-Herald

Lee County, Mississippi – unk number of cases

Asheville, NC – 1 to 3 cases, plus cases in local college

Meanwhile, two students at Roberson High School were diagnosed with H1N1 following a soccer camp late last month.

A football player at Erwin High School also was suspected to have swine flu Monday, though the case was not confirmed as of Tuesday, Buncombe County schools spokeswoman Jan Blunt said. Letters were sent home to parents about swine flu showing up in student athletes, including tips for safe hygiene.