Lee County has sent 51 samples of potential swine flu to the Centers for Disease Control for testing.

Fifteen samples are not swine flu, one is a probable positive and two cases are confirmed, officials said Tuesday.

Thirty-three samples are still pending results from the state laboratory in Tampa.

The samples sent come for across Lee County.

The confirmed cases are two students from Spring Creek Elementary School, where two boys, 7 and 11, tested positive for H1N1, or swine flu.

Swine flu is typically characterized by a fever of greater than 100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C, cough, sore throat, headache and body aches, chills, fatigue and some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.

Showing the signs and symptoms of flu does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to swine flu, but people with symptoms should contact their health care providers or hospital for instructions about receiving treatment, officials said.

However, they urge those who show symptoms to visit the doctor.

“It is very important for individuals who think they might have been exposed to swine flu to contact their health care provider as quickly as possible,” Dr. Judith Hartner, Lee County Health Department, said. “Rapid treatment is the key to recovery.”

The Lee County Health Department continues to urge all residents to continue with good flu hygiene to reduce the opportunity for infection.

For more information about swine influenza, visit www.doh.state.fl.us or www.cdc.gov (CDC). The Lee County Health Department also has set up a Swine Flu Hotline where callers can speak with health department staff to answer their questions on swine flu at (239) 461-6180. The state has information lines established where callers can receive additional swine flu information at 1-800-775-8039 or 1-800-342-3557.

Source: Lee County Health Department