Seven Midwest teens get swine flu after huge youth gathering

Star Tribune

Last update: August 10, 2009 - 10:23 PM

Five young North Dakotans and two youth from South Dakota developed swine flu shortly after returning from a major Lutheran youth gathering in Louisiana, officials reported Monday.

The five North Dakota cases are in Walsh and Traill counties, which border Minnesota.

The youth gathering was held late last month in New Orleans by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and drew 37,000 participants from across the country.

"About 26 became ill with influenza-like illnesses shortly after returning to North Dakota," the North Dakota Health Department said in a statement. "Samples were collected from five individuals, all five of which tested positive for novel H1N1 influenza."

All have recovered without requiring hospitalization, the health officials said.

Last week, the South Dakota state epidemiologist informed staff from the youth gathering that two young people who had attended got the illness, according to John R. Brooks, director of the ELCA's News Service in Chicago. The two youths lived in separate parts of the state, Brooks said.

Church officials were looking into whether other cases had been connected to the gathering. Included in the teenagers' activities were service projects connected to the city's recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

PAUL WALSH