2 pupils diagnosed with swine flu

Two Merrimack public school students were diagnosed with H1N1, or swine flu, Superintendent Marjorie Chiafery said Thursday.

A student at Reeds Ferry Elementary School and another at Mastricola Elementary School are recovering, Chiafery said. The district’s schools will remain open, she said.

The state Department of Health and Human Services notified the district Wednesday of the cases, and all parents were notified that day through the reverse 911 notification system, Chiafery said.

Chiafery said she didn’t know exactly when the students were last in school but said it was last week.

An Amherst Elementary School student was also diagnosed with swine flu this week. As of Wednesday, 64 people in New Hampshire have had confirmed H1N1 cases, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. It is unknown if the total included the two Merrimack students.

Health officials advise people to wash their hands often and thoroughly, cover mouths when coughing, and stay home if experiencing swine flu symptoms, which include fever, chills, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

– ALBERT McKEON