More schools close as more suspected H1N1 cases reported

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- More suspected flu cases have forced more local schools to close their doors for intensive days of cleaning.

Hallandale Academy, a preschool in Hallandale Beach, has shut its doors under the suspicion that one of their students may have contracted the H1N1 virus until next week. The results of the child's test remains pending from the Centers for Disease Control.

New this Tuesday afternoon, Nova Southeastern University also shut the doors to the Mailman Segal Institute For Early Childhood Studies as a precaution, after an employee came down with what seemed like the flu. The school plans to reopen on Wednesday.

As of now, there is only one confirmed case of the H1N1 virus in Broward County, and while more cases are pending test results, officials are not taking precautions lightly.

Hallandale High School saw a fifth consecutive day of cleaning Tuesday. A 17-year-old student there is the first and, so far, only confirmed case of H1N1 in Broward County. Administrators will decide whether or not to reopen on Thursday morning by Wednesday afternoon.

Down in Miami-Dade, Doral Charter Middle and High School closed their doors due to a probable case of the flu in a 13-year-old student, but will re-open on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, Principal Francisco Jimenez oversaw a third day of cleaning at the campuses. "The key here is basically, number 1, student safety," he said. "Number 2, the safety of all the adults within the school, and, number three, the normal operations at the school."

The authorities have set up local hot line facilities to take calls for those with concerns and questions about the virus (see the link above for the numbers). "Now that I'm seeing it's starting to spread. I'm starting to worry a lot, so you really don't know what to do," said Ronald Diaz.

Authorities continue to ask the public to remain calm. "The symptoms of the swine flu remain mild and are very much similar to the seasonal flu," said Dr. Paula Thaqi of The Broward Health Department at a recent press conference.

Test results of the most recent suspected flu cases should be in by the end of the day from the CDC.

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