Girl becomes second confirmed case of H1N1 in McHenry County

A 6-year-old Algonquin girl is the second McHenry county resident with a confirmed case of H1N1, county and state officials announced this afternoon.

The girl, who initially was tested about a week ago, is being cared for at home, and today's confirmation should not lead to any school closings, said Deborah Quackenbush, spokeswoman for the McHenry County Department of Health.

Officials are still trying to determine how the girl came into contact with the virus, Quackenbush said. Unlike the 40-year-old McHenry man who acquired the county's first confirmed case of H1N1, the girl has not traveled to Mexico or been on contact with others known to have the virus.

So far, state health authorities have confirmed 225 cases of H1N1 in Illinois among more than 640 nationwide.

Despite two fatalities, the vast majority of cases have been mild, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.