MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says even though flu cases are higher than normal, there is no indication that the swine flu virus has changed or is more severe than in the spring.

The report issued Wednesday says only 23 percent of those tested for the flu have it, but nearly all of them are swine flu.

Since Sept. 1, 53 people have been hospitalized for swine flu and two have died this fall.

Starting Thursday, school superintendents will have the power to close their schools and waive makeup days. Schools in 14 Wisconsin communities have been closed due to swine flu this month alone.

As of Tuesday, the state had received 245,000 doses of swine flu vaccine.

Additional information

These links will open in a new window:
♦ Suspected H1N1 swine flu closes Mount Calvary Lutheran School near Appleton
♦ Special Report: H1N1 "swine" flu
♦ Topic: H1N1
♦ Centers for Disease Control swine flu page
♦ Wisconsin's Pandemic Flu Resource
♦ Federal flu pandemic site
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