Basics hit with Flu!

[AuzmansMOM]

Eighty-four members of the Air Force Academy's incoming class have been isolated on campus after developing flu-like symptoms, and testing is under way to determine if they have contracted swine flu.

From The Gazzette

The students became ill over the past two days, said Capt. Corinna Jones, an academy spokeswoman. She initially told The Gazette that only a "handful" had symptoms.

They're complaining of upper respiratory problems such as coughing. Jones said that most, if not all, of the patients are doolies, or the academy's freshest recruits who began a rigorous, entry-level training regimen June 25.

Specimens have been sent to a laboratory in San Antonio, Texas, for analysis, and results are expected within 24 hours, Jones said.

If testing determines that the cadets have , or H1N1, it would be the single largest outbreak in the state. The has contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Air Force Surgeon General's Office as a precaution.

Doolies with flu-like symptoms have been placed in isolation in Vandenberg Hall, a dormitory, and are wearing white masks.

"We don't want anyone to go into a panic, but that's what (the CDC is) recommending, so that's what they're doing," Jones said.

The sent out a base-wide message at 4:30 p.m. today warning of an increase in visits to the academy's medical clinic related to upper respiratory problems such as coughing, sore throats and fever.

The warning urges people on base to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and to wash their hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

The doolies are among about 1,300 who recently came to the academy for their first weeks of military training.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recorded 174 confirmed or probable cases of in Colorado through July 4. There have been 20 such cases in El Paso County, according to recent figures from the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment.

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Brian Newsome of The Gazette contributed to this report.

[AuzmansMOM]

Thanks To Eileen For the heads up on this Article