H1N1 flu confirmed at Mundelein High School

A Mundelein High School student is among three confirmed H1N1 flu, or swine flu, cases in Lake County, officials said Tuesday.

Despite the 15-year-old girl's diagnosis, the Hawley Street campus will remain open, however. She has been out of class for a week and had been treated with anti-flu medication before briefly returning to school for part of the day last Thursday, Superintendent Jody Ware said.

The girl was sent home Thursday after school officials became aware she probably had the disease, Ware said.

Other Chicago-area schools have closed after students with the H1N1 virus were discovered, but Lake County Health Department officials said it's not necessary for Mundelein to shut down.

Instead, school leaders are closely monitoring student and staff attendance. They've instructed anyone with flu symptoms such as a fever or a sore throat to say home for seven days.

So far, eight students have opted to stay home because of flu symptoms, but they haven't been tested for the H1N1 strain, Ware said. No staff members have been affected, she said.

The unidentified girl's 42-year-old mother also has tested positive for the H1N1 strain, school and health department officials said.

School officials have been communicating with village leaders and the county health department about the cases.

A 34-year-old Round Lake man is the county's third confirmed H1N1 case.

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