Swine flu cases close two Italian schools

ROME, May 22 (UPI) -- Ferruccio Fazio, the Italian deputy minister of health, said Friday he closed two high schools in Rome after four students were diagnosed with swine flu.

Fazio said the Convito Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II and the Dante Alighieri schools were closed for seven days as a result of the confirmed swine flu cases, which all involved students who recently returned from a trip to New York, the Italian news agency, ANSA, said.

The deputy minister also confirmed all of the 400 Italian students who took part in the U.S. visit were being contacted to determine if they needed to undergo testing for the H1N1 virus.

Fazio told the media while the new influenza strain is not particularly virulent, a precautious stance was advisable.

"Nevertheless, it is best to take all precautions and carry out the established prevention measures to control any possible epidemic," he said.

ANSA said the addition of the four new swine flu cases brings Italy's current H1N1 case tally to 14. In comparison, New York City has 227 confirmed cases and nearby New York counties have reported an additional 106 diagnosed cases.