Nevada flu cases reach 50 statewide

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 | 5:10 p.m.

Nevada health officials are reporting a total of 50 cases of the novel H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, as of Tuesday.

The state said that 28 new cases in Washoe County has boosted Nevada's total of new flu cases, said Martha Framsted spokeswoman for the Nevada Division of Health.

Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City, has confirmed a total of 29 flu cases, said Jennifer Sizemore, spokeswoman for the Southern Nevada Health District.

The Washoe County cases increased by 28, said Judy Davis, spokeswoman for the Washoe County Health District, which include Reno and Sparks.

Fifteen of the new cases are linked to Mendive Middle School, Davis said. Mendive re-opened Tuesday morning after school and health officials shut it down Thursday to avoid the spread of the novel virus that contains bits of swine, bird and human influenza segments, but has never been seen in the world until this year.

Davis said that Mendive Middle School will remain open at this time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there are 6,754 confirmed and probable cases of the new flu in 48 states and the District of Columbia. More than 300 people have been hospitalized and 10 deaths have been reported, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center of Influenza and Respiratory Diseases at CDC.

The World Health Organization reported Tuesday that 12,954 cases in 46 nations have been confirmed worldwide.

China is reporting 12 cases of the novel flu, seven of them airline passengers arriving in China from the United States. Four others came from Candada and one came from Australia. Of the 10 men and two women infected with the virus, their ages range from 2 years to 69 years old, Chinese health officials said. All of the Chinese cases traveled by airplane.