Swine flu paranoia persists as details regarding a second case in Mingo County has been confirmed in laboratory testing. Mingo County Health Department Administrator Cathy Headen explained other cases are suspected and are being checked, however, most cases of suspected H1N1 have been determined as influenza A.

HIPPA laws prevented Headen from commenting further in regards to the confirmed cases.

Mingo County parents have voiced concerns in the wake of the H1N1 pandemic. However, Williamson High School Principal Johnny Branch ensures the paranoia is unfounded.

“School officials have undergone extensive training specifically for recognizing and treating swine flu and we’ve been educating our students on the symptoms and how to cough properly,” said Branch. “We are taking every precaution possible, including hand sanitizers being placed throughout the school.”

“We have not had a case of swine flu in Williamson High School and our absentee rates are not high,” continued Branch.

Parents also expressed concerns regarding possible swine flu cases at Kermit K-8. The Daily News could not get a confirmation from health officials about possible cases in the Kermit school either,

The Kentucky Depart-ment for Public Health reported this week two more deaths confirmed as related to the swine flu. The deaths involved a Caldwell County teenager with no known health issues and a Christian County woman in her late 20s who had underlying health issues.