Cases have not been confirmed
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The City of Amarillo held a press conference Wednesday evening and officials said there are three suspected pediatric cases in Potter and Randall counties in the Texas Panhandle.
ProNews 7 stresses these cases are not probable or confirmed yet.
The health department will send some samples to Austin for further testing before confirming it as swine flu.
The suspected cases tested positive for a rapid flu type "A" test -- that's a signal the virus the person is carrying is not just seasonal influenza. Dr. Todd Bell said this is the first report of anybody testing positive for type "A" in Amarillo since the Center for Disease Control started monitoring swine flu.
What makes the testing more complicated is that it is still flu season.
"Right now with these cases we don't have a way to difference those cases that could be influenza from those that could be swine flu," said Dr. Todd Bell, the Public Health Authority.
Health officials urge people to stay home if they feel sick, and to practice good hygiene.
Again, these are suspect cases and final confirmation needs to come from the Centers for Disease Control in the following days.
