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By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Andrew M. Seder on Facebook   |   @TLAndrewSeder on Twitter

A second case of the swine flu has been confirmed in Luzerne County.

Last week, the state Department of Health listed a “probable” case on its Web site for the county. On Sunday the case status was changed to “confirmed.”

According to the department’s Web site, there are nine probable cases across the state, including one in Lackawanna County that was reported over the weekend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a backlog of samples to test, including the one from Lackawanna County.

To date there have been 46 confirmed cases in Pennsylvania and more than 5,100 cases and six deaths nationwide.

Earlier this month, a Holy Redeemer High School student tested positive for the strain of influenza that was first found in Mexico and has now spread worldwide.

The student missed a week of school and was treated and cleared to attend classes. The school never closed but was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, according to Principal James Redington.

The new confirmed case was first posted on the state’s Web site Friday as a probable case. Department of Health spokeswoman Stacy Kriedeman said privacy issues prevented her from releasing the age, sex or hometown of the person who tested probable for the H1N1 virus in Lackawanna County or the latest confirmed patient in Luzerne County.

In addition to Luzerne County, the other counties in the state with confirmed cases are: Adams (2), Allegheny (2), Berks (4), Bucks (4), Cambria (2), Chester (2), Cumberland (1), Delaware (2), Lancaster (1), Lehigh (2), Lycoming (1), Mercer (1), Montgomery (3), Philadelphia (14), Westmoreland (2) and York (1).