Oregon Public Broadcasting

Public health officials are reporting the first suspected cases of swine flu in Washington State. 6 people are ill. 3 are in Seattle, 2 in Snohomish County, and 1 in Spokane County.

Health officials made the announcement at an impromptu news conference Wednesday night, which was broadcast by Northwest Cable News.

Dr. David Fleming is Director of the Department of Public Health -- Seattle King County.

Dr. David Fleming: “It is likely that as has happened in at least 10 other states in this country that swine flu appears likely to have arrived in Washington and in Seattle. The message about what people should be doing remain the same. That is as I’ve said to stay at home keep your children at home if you are sick if you are coughing cover your mouth and wash your hands. Nothing more complicated than that.”

The virus appears to have struck an 11-year-old Seattle boy, a student at Madrona K-8. He was not in school when he developed flu symptoms on Monday. The boy is currently hospitalized but his condition is improving.

The other cases are a 27-year-old Seattle man, and a 33-year-old Seattle woman. She is a primary care physician. Her husband and two children have also come down with symptoms. All are recovering at home.

Officials say the state’s public health laboratories were not able to positively identify mucus specimens taken from the 6 patients.

The specimens are now being sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, which will confirm whether the cases are swine flu. That may take a few days. But in the meantime, health officials say they are treating them as if they were confirmed.