Hometown News: Swine Flu News Summary

New York State Health officials say five new probable cases of swine flu have been reported outside New York City, including one in Chautauqua County. Officials in Niagara County say two cases there are suspected to be swine flu, but further testing is needed. Erie County officials say no suspected cases have been reported. The State Health Commissioner Doctor Richard Daines says New York now has nearly three million treatments of flu medication stockpiled and ready to go if needed. Governor Paterson urges residents to be more alert than alarmed and stressed all of the cases have been mild.

New York State health officials say Monroe County now has one probable case of swine flu. The case involves a girl who had recently been to Mexico. Further testing by the CDC is needed to get a confirmation of swine flu.

Parents at a Queens elementary school may keep their children home this morning after several students experienced flu-like symptoms. The city Health Department is testing students at PS 21 in Flushing for the swine flu. But unlike other schools this week in New York City, city officials are not canceling classes this morning.

Three Brooklyn Catholic schools, along with PS 177 and Saint Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, shut down this week with possible swine flu cases.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is offering a symbolic response to Vice President Joe Biden's recent remarks about the swine flu outbreak. The big city mayor boarded a Number 4, 5, 6 train from his Upper East Side penthouse to City Hall yesterday to attend a news conference in lower Manhattan. The Vice President, during a Thursday appearance on NBC's "Today Show," said he would not go anywhere in confined places, including airplanes or subways, due to the potentially deadly strain of the flu.