Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- A Westerly man is the first official case of swine flu, another suspected case has shown up in a Johnson & Wales student who went home to Massachusetts to recover, and North Kingstown schools should reopen Monday after the student suspected of having H1N1 influenza turned out to have a different illness, Health Director David R. Gifford reported Saturday.

Gifford said the health department will decide Sunday whether to recommend the resumption of classes and activities at Johnson & Wales. Test results on the first probable case at the school, along the tests on a Smithfield woman who may have the illness, could be available by then.

Other suspected cases are being investigated.

All the known and cases have been relatively mild, which is welcome news following deaths in Mexico and the fear that the H1N1 strain was unusually dangerous.

The health director said his advice to everyone continues to be to stay home if you feel ill, cleanse your hands frequently, and sneeze or cough into your elbow to avoid spreading germs.

More details to come . . .

-- C. Eugene Emery Jr. / gemery@projo.com / (401)277-7442

This story was originally posted at 2:54 p.m.

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