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Thurston Co. Youth Camp Shuts Down For Flu-Like Symptoms

Posted: 6:17 pm PDT April 30, 2009

A youth camp near Olympia with more than 130 kids is shut down Thursday after 35 children and teachers came down with flu-like symptoms, but it’s not confirmed that it’s swine flu.

One of the campers was brought to the hospital Wednesday night and tested negative for the flu, but on Thursday another camper tested positive for Influenza A.

Parents rushed to Camp Thunderbird to pick up their children after 35 staff and students at camp rapidly developed flu like symptoms Wednesday.

"They were feeling really bad, so they had to stay in the cabin the whole time and when we went to sleep we had to wear masks to sleep," said student AJ McGrew.

While one 12-year-old boy taken to St. Peter's hospital tested negative for the flu, camp director Sue Wattier got a call from another parent who reports her child has tested positive for Influenza A.

Following procedure, those results should now be sent to the state lab in Shoreline to see if they can match the virus with a known strain of the flu. If not, they will send the information to the CDC to test for swine flu.

While parents at the camp are worried, Thurston County's Health Officer sees no red flags pointing towards swine flu.

"I have no reason to connect it to swine flu. There's no travel history. There is no history of being exposed to someone who is ill who has been travelling, etc," said Dr. Diana Yu of the Thurston County Health Department.

Some parents said they will be getting themselves and their children checked out by a doctor.

“I am going to make my son a doctor’s appointment right now and we're going to the doctor," said mother Monica McGrew.

All the students at the camp were from private schools in King County. The Thurston County Health Department has asked the camp to remain shut down for the next seven days to help limit the possible spread of the illness.

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