H1N1 confirmed in Stephenson County

FREEPORT – Stephenson County health officials announced Wednesday that they have confirmed the county’s first positive human case of the H1N1 influenza virus, formerly known as swine flu, The (Freeport) Journal-Standard reported today.

County Health Administrator Craig Beintema told The Journal-Standard that the adult individual in question did not require hospitalization and has recovered from their illness. Beintema said he could not provide information on the victim’s age or gender.

Beintema said the victim is a local clinic patient from central Stephenson County who visited a physician with flu-like symptoms. A state laboratory in Chicago confirmed the case to be H1N1.

So far, there is no evidence that the disease has spread beyond the one person, Beintema said.

A recent outbreak of the disease originating in Mexico has led to human infections throughout the world and in all 50 U.S. states.