Per the New York Times, an assistant principal at a middle school in Queens has been hospitalized and is on a ventilator in "the first serious case of swine flu in New York City." The incident has led to the school closing through next week, and two other schools nearby have also closed.
On the other side of the country, a woman in her late 40's has died of swine flu in Maricopa County, Arizona,
per KPHO-5 in Phoenix. The county has more than 100 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus,
per EmaxHealth.
Twitterers in Queens and around New York City are interpreting their local case differently.
MissMillions (Queens, N.Y.) Oh GEEZ! 3 schools in NY are being shut down due to H1N1 aka Swine Flu. Schools are: Susan B Anthony I.S. 238, Walter Crowley I.S 5, P.S 16 14 May 2009 from web ShawnzSoLoso (Queens, N.Y.) Swine Flu is all over Queens. Reports in Corona, Elmhurst & Jamaica. Lawd hammercy!!! 14 May 2009 from UberTwitter Marshall34 (New York, N.Y.) Here we go again. Swine flu rears it's ugly face again. The strain has mutated again and has become more deadly. 14 May 2009 from Twitterrific Kirb94 (New York, N.Y.) Because of swine flu I just got a call from my school that we have Monday off. Wooooo. 14 May 2009 from twhirl SexyRubie (Queens, N.Y.) Swine flu outbreak 3 schools shut down one by house so wearing a mask now Queens is dangerous right now 14 May 2009 from TwitterBerry NewYorkology (New York, N.Y.) Four students have H1N1 plus one staff member "who is critically ill" - Mayor Bloomberg says of IS 238 ... 50 stdnts sent home w/flu symptms 14 May 2009 from web
Arizona Twitterers are discussing the spread of the virus in their backyard.
crisch (Phoenix, Ariz.) Uuuggh. So its 1st az swine flu "death"!? Woman had underlying lung disease. When will this dumb story die!? 14 May 2009 from TwitterBerry cgosney (Scottsdale, Ariz.) another co-worker has H1N1...it's closing in on us 14 May 2009 from web author1701 (Phoenix, Ariz.) Arizona's first - RT: @Maricopahealth: Maricopa County annouces 1st swine flu death http://www.wearepublichealth.org/ *H1N1 14 May 2009 from TwitterFox
Swine flu resurgent in parts of United States