Carnegie Mellon confirms 26 swine flu cases

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Carnegie Mellon University has confirmed another eight cases of swine flu, bringing the total number of sick students to 26.

CMU’s director of student health services Anita Barkin says the H1N1 flu virus hit the campus just days before classes officially begin Monday. She says the first case was confirmed Aug. 10. Freshmen arrived Aug. 16 for orientation.

Barkin says classes have not been canceled. She says that could change if there are more severe cases of the flu, causing a high rate of absenteeism among students and faculty.

The ill students have been placed in isolation in an on-campus facility with round-the-clock nurses. An extra nurse has been hired to staff the area.