Tuesday 2:15pm Update:
A sample from an eleventh child in Merkel is being considered a probable case of the swine flu, according to the Abilene-Taylor County Public Heath District.

The sample is from a 10-year-old child whose symptoms began April 30.  The child is recovering.

The Centers for Disease Control laboratory has not yet confirmed that any of the 11 cases are in fact the H1N1 virus.

Merkel and Trent schools remain closed until May 11, although the CDC came out today and said schools need not close to prevent the spreading of the virus.


Monday 3:45pm Update:
The Nolan County Health Department reports one "highly probable" case of the H1N1 virus in Nolan County.

The sample came from an adult male in Sweetwater.  Sweetwater schools are not affected and will remain open.


Monday 3:30pm Update:
The Abilene-Taylor Public Health District has confirmed that the tenth flu sample sent for testing did come back positive as the possible swine flu virus.

The sample from the 11-year-old child in Merkel was sent off May 1.  The child's first symptoms began April 30 and the child is now recovering and doing well, according to a press release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now has all 10 samples from Taylor County and will confirm whether or not they are actual cases of the H1N1 virus.


Monday 2:50pm Update:
Merkel ISD Superintendent Bill Hood tells bigcountryhomepage.com that he received word of a 10th case of "probable" swine flu in his district.

According to Hood, the Taylor County Health Department said it was an 11-year-old child from Merkel.

However, when we called the health department, we were told that it was not ready to release any information about new cases at this time.


Sunday 3:15pm Update:
Another flu case from Merkel has been deemed a "probable" case of the swine flu by health officials in Tarrant County.

The 4 year old is recovering from the illness and doing well, according to a press release from the Abilene - Taylor County Public Health District.  The sample was submitted on April 30.

This brings the total of probable cases in Taylor County to nine.  Doctors sent 19 flu samples to Tarrant County to test them for the swine flu.

The Centers for Disease Control will confirm whether or not they are true cases of the H1N1 virus (swine flu).

Saturday 6:40pm Update:
Two more flu cases from Merkel have been deemed "probable" cases of the swine flu.

The children, siblings ages 5 and 7, are recovering from the illness and are doing well, according to a press release from the Abilene - Taylor County Public Health District.

This brings the total of probable cases in Taylor County to eight.  Doctors sent 19 flu samples to Tarrant County to test them for the swine flu.

The Centers fod Disease Control in Georgia has all eight samples and will confirm whether or not they are true cases of the H1N1 virus (swine flu).


Friday 9pm Update:
Merkel ISD and Trent ISD schools will be closed until May 11 after six children there tested for "probable "probable" cases of the H1N1 (swine) flu in Merkel.  The cases have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control for confirmation.  A timeline for when those results will come back is not yet known.

Of the 19 samples sent from Taylor County for further testing, all probable six cases came from students in Merkel, ages 4 to 11. 

The announcement came Friday evening in a press conference from Abilene City Hall carried live on bigcountryhomepage.com.

Each of the infected children has recovered from the flu.  The first of the patient's symptoms began on April 23 and the samples were submitted for further testing on April 28.

Superintendent Bill Hood told bigcountryhomepage.com that the district is following recommendations to cancel classes through Friday, May 8.

"Our recommendation would be Merkel schools do close," Dr. Zane Travis with the Taylor County Health Department said during the press conference.  "That would not apply to Abilene schools right now."

According to Dr. Travis, at least one of the Merkel students had recently been to Laredo, Texas, which is located in the border of Mexico.

Taylor County health officials warn people to be cautious, while also warning of unnecessary panic.

"We are not at all panicked because these have all been mild cases," Dr. Travis said.  "The doctors (of the infected children)  have been right on the ball and prescribed the medication which has been effective.  All are well; all received Tamiflu which has been effective."

Because the samples have not been confirmed by the CDC as H1N1, the six cases will not yet show up among national statistics.

People should continue washing their hands and avoiding crowded, indoor gatherings, Dr. Travis said.

But don't go too far.

"My grandson is playing baseball in little league tomorrow and I plan to be there," he said.

For continuing coverage and resources on the swine flu, visit our special section at http://bigcountryhomepage.com/content/health/swine_flu.