Friday, May 1, 2009

MIT: Student Tested For Swine Flu; Results Aren’t In Yet

Meanwhile, Harvard Closes Dental School in Boston
By Michael McGraw-Herdeg
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
May 1, 2009

An MIT student was diagnosed with influenza yesterday, and samples taken from the student are being tested for the H1N1 swine flu. The test was routine and the student is not at high risk of having contracted H1N1 swine flu, an MIT physician said.

The student, who reportedly lives off campus, has not engaged in travel or done anything else that would increase their risk of exposure to swine flu, said Howard M. Heller, chief of internal medicine at MIT Medical.

Samples from all confirmed cases of influenza virus type A are now routinely sent to the state health board to check whether the infection is swine flu. The test typically takes several days.

Meanwhile, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and its dental clinic were closed Friday while the Boston Public Health Commission investigated one probable case of swine flu, the Boston Globe reported. The commission requested that classes be cancelled for third- and fourth-year and post-doctoral students, the Globe reported.

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