More probable Minn. flu cases, people shrug?

Photo by revenante

The Minnesota Department of Health announced three more probable cases of the H1N1 influenza today. Two cases are in Hennepin County and one is in Washington County.

The response seems to be much more calm following a report we posted this morning that officials are urging people to stop overreacting to probable cases by refraining from closing schools immediately and testing only cases that are hospitalized with the flu.

The case in Washington County is connected to a preschool program at Hugo Elementary. That program was canceled today. One of the cases in Hennepin County is linked to someone at Lake Harriet Community School, but the school is still open for now.

Another piece of good news, from Minnesota Public Radio:

The Department says it will soon have the ability to confirm H1N1 cases in its own lab, instead of sending samples to the CDC in Atlanta. That means the department will no longer report cases as probable.

Thanks, Minnesota! We're sick of the looming "probable" cases which really don't mean much until it's actually confirmed. We don't exactly enjoy spreading fear for no good reason. There are nine cases in the state that are labeled "probable" as of today.