The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in Illinois soared to 225 on Wednesday -- including a first at Cook County Jail -- but state health officials assured that the increase was due to new testing capabilities that continue to reduce a backlog of suspected flu samples.
As a result of the surge in cases, Illinois rose to the top of the list of states with the flu, recording more confirmed cases than any other state, health officials said. The state had 20 probable cases not yet confirmed.
"We want to make sure that people are reassured and understand that this is not an increase in community spread," said Kelly Jakubek, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health. "We have had hundreds upon hundreds of specimens come into our lab, and now ... we have been able to move through those much more quickly."
New testing guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the reduction of the backlog, are expected to stabilize numbers in Illinois in the coming days, Jakubek said.
Previously, the state Health Department tested specimens from anyone with flulike symptoms that were determined not to be common influenza strains. Since Friday, the state has tested samples only from people who are hospitalized, have severe symptoms or have a high-risk condition, such as pregnancy, Jakubek said.
Dispatches from Chicago's south side.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Swine flu: Confirmed cases jump to 225 in Illinois
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