Boise State University has confirmed its first swine flu case, in a student living in the dorms. They’ve got a long way to go, of course, to catch up to WSU at Pullman, which has the biggest campus outbreak in the nation with 2,500 cases/More here at Eye on Boise

Question: Will you get flu shots this year?

A group visiting Bonner and Boundary counties from out of state includes one person with a confirmed case of H1N1 influenza and seven people with possible H1N1 flu. The group of more than 100 people has been active in communities in both counties since early June. A woman in her 20s with the group became ill last week and tested positive for the Influenza A virus. That test was sent to the Idaho State Laboratory in Boise, which confirmed Thursday the virus was Novel H1N1. Over the weekend, seven more group members tested positive for the Influenza A virus and their tests were sent to the state lab for confirmation of H1N1. Those results will be available by mid week/Cynthia Taggart, Panhandle Health District. More here.

• Conservation group offers ‘smart watering’ workshop/Coeur d’Alene Today
• City Beach opens Wednesday with new lifeguard rules/Coeur d’Alene Today
• Students get bikes for perfect attendance/Kootenai MPO
• NIC announces spring Phi Theta Kappa inductees/NIC Press Room
• NIC players, coaches to lead summer soccer camp/NIC Press Room

The Idaho State Laboratory confirmed the fourth and fifth cases of Novel H1N1 (swine) influenza in the five northern counties this week, reinforcing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s message that the virus continues to spread. The latest cases are in women in their 20s. Both are recovering without hospitalization. One of the women lives in Kootenai County and recently traveled to Seattle. The other is a visitor to Bonners Ferry. She is isolating herself until she’s no longer contagious. Panhandle Health District (PHD) is monitoring both patients’ contacts for signs of flu symptoms and is working with the medical community and local governments to control spread as much as possible/Cynthia Taggart, Panhandle Health District. More here.

Item: CDC confirms one swine flu case in Idaho: 10 more probable cases reported in Washington/SR, AP

More Info: According to the Panhandle Health District, the woman became ill after a recent trip to Texas. She has been recovering at home. The woman, who represents the first confirmed case of swine flu in Idaho, is retired and has had limited contact with other people since she began feeling ill, health district officials said. Spokane Health District spokeswoman Julie Graham said Sunday there has been no such confirmation for the two probable cases in Spokane County.

Question: Are you more/less concerned about the swine flu outbreak today than you were a week ago?

KJRB and PHD’s Taggart re: local swine flu case

A Kootenai County woman in her 60s who recently traveled to Texas has become the first probable case of H1NI (swine) flu sent by the Idaho State Laboratory to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The woman is recovering and did not require hospitalization, according to the Panhandle Health District. “This is a strong reminder to everyone of the importance of practicing respiratory etiquette and good hygiene to protect themselves and others,” said Lora Whalen, director of Family and Community Health for the Panhandle Health District/Huckleberries Online. PHD news release here.

Item: Swine flu has likely arrived: In Washington: Spokane resident, back from California, among six probable cases/John Stucke, Jonathan Brunt, and Sara Leaming, SR

More Info: A Spokane man in his 40s is among six Washington state residents who probably have swine flu, health officials said Wednesday night. The officials have been unable to interview the man, who hasn’t returned their phone calls. They don’t know if he is married or has children in local schools. Three of the other likely infected state residents are in King County, and two are in Snohomish County. There have been no confirmed cases of swine flu in Idaho

Question: Does the probability that a Spokane man has swine flu heighten your concern about the spreading health threat?