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A special-needs student at Rockville High School became the county's second probable swine flu case, but has no travel link to any infected areas, making it the first reported community-acquired infection in the state.
County and state officials, including Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), announced the new information Friday morning in Rockville.
The Rockville student began experiencing flu-like symptoms Tuesday, was taken to a doctor by his parents and was at home recovering by Friday, said county Health Officer Ulder Tillman.
Results of an initial test at the state health lab in Baltimore prompted the school closure late Thursday night.
The lack of a travel link means that the virus may have reached a new level, officials said.
The Rockville student has a sibling in another school in the system. The name of that school was not released Friday.
He now is home and recovered, but his wife, a Montgomery County teacher, and two children have been asked to stay home from school.
School officials notified parents at the affected schools — Takoma Park Elementary, Westland Middle and Einstein High schools — about the situation. Those schools remained open Friday.
There are no plans yet to close other schools, or county and public buildings, such as libraries.
Montgomery County's two probable cases bring the number of probable cases in the state to nine. The other seven cases involve residents in Anne Arundel (three) and Baltimore (four) counties.
The state health lab in Baltimore is testing 67 suspected cases to determine whether they should be designated probable cases. Test information from probable cases is sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for additional testing before being deemed confirmed cases.
Nationally, the CDC confirmed 141 cases of swine flu as of Friday morning.
Locally, parents are being asked to not only keep Rockville High students home from school, but to also limit their congregating at places such as malls, movie theaters and other school events.
A decision will be determined over the weekend whether the high school will be closed Monday. There is no indication that the school system should disinfect the school, Tillman said. Normal cleaning done by school staff should be sufficient.
The number of probable cases in the county is expected to increase, along with restrictions on adults and children, Tillman said.
Effects being felt
-In the meantime, a sign of the times could be seen on the Q2 bus from Silver Spring Friday morning. A number of passengers were wearing surgical masks or were covering their mouths in other ways.
-Sales at CVS/pharmacy are brisk for items such as hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial soap and protective masks, particularly in markets where there are confirmed cases of the virus, according to Michael J. DeAngelis, director of public relations for the chain.
"We are working with our product suppliers to help meet the increased demand for these items in order to take care of our customers," he said.
-A spokeswoman with a family practice in North Potomac said that the office had received an influx of calls about the swine flu on Friday.
"It just started today with the closure of Rockville High School," she said.
Callers were asking if there are any vaccines available, but there were not.
"We're just telling them to take the normal flu precautions," she said.
If needed, antiviral drugs are available through the practice with a prescription, she said.
For more information:
Montgomery County flu hot line: 240-777-4200, questions will be answered 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; www.montgomerycountymd.gov
Maryland flu hot line: 1-877-MDFLU4U (1-877-633-5848), questions will be answered 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; questions can also be sent to: swineflu@dhmh.state.md.us; information will be updated frequently at www.maryland.gov.
