Swine flu confirmed in summer camper

The first confirmed case of swine flu at Virginia Tech was reported this week.

The university's health center confirmed that a participant of a summer camp on the campus had the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu, according to an e-mail sent to on-campus students.

The participant was sent home and the university's housekeeping department enacted an exposure containment plan, which included disinfecting points of human contact in bathrooms, according to the e-mail, which was posted on the Web site of student newspaper Collegiate Times.

The Virginia Department of Health said Wednesday that 267 cases had been confirmed in the state, including two in the Roanoke health district, four in the Alleghany health district and two in the New River health district.

The department reported a woman died in the Chesapeake area in early June and a man died in northern Virginia early this month from complications related to the virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the virus does not appear to be more severe than the seasonal flu and has recommended washing hands regularly, limiting contact with sick people and staying home if ill.

-- Jorge Valencia