Six cases of swine flu virus have now been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Of the three new confirmed cases, two are Cape Coral residents and one is a Lehigh resident. Of the Cape Coral residents, one is a school-aged child and the other is an adult female. The Lehigh resident is an adult male. Those who have been identified as confirmed have all had mild symptoms and are doing fine, officials said.

The newly identified student case was absent from school during the illness and has recovered and returned to school. The total case count is now six confirmed cases of H1N1 (swine flu) virus in Lee County.

“We continue to recommend the same precautions to the public that we always recommend during the flu season: that everyone should wash they hands frequently, stay home from work or school if they feel ill, and cover their mouths with a tissue or their sleeve if they are coughing,” said Dr. Judith Hartner, M.D., M.P.H., M.P.A., in a prepared statement today.

The confirmed cases in Lee County include; a 7-year-old boy; a 10-year-old boy; an 8-year-old girl; a 7-year-old boy; a 60-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man.

People who have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with H1N1 flu or who reside in communities where there are one or more confirmed swine flu cases should also be alert for flu-like symptoms.

Common sense precautions to prevent illness include: avoiding close contact with those who are ill; staying home when sick; covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth; and frequent hand washing, officials said.

Source: Lee County Health Department