H1N1 virus shutters Minnesota summer camp

A camp for children with special needs in Maple Lake, west of the Twin Cities, was shut down after seven children and three adults were found with the H1N1 influenza virus.

Organizers of the camp, which is run by the Minnesota Muscular Dystrophy Association, said Friday that all had mild cases and have recovered. They said they closed the camp as a precaution.

Doug Schultz, with the Minnesota Department of Health, said camp officials did the right thing.

"The operators of the camps, just like the operators of schools earlier, they would have enough information to make their own decisions about what they wanted to do," Schultz said.

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The Health Department has identified another potential cluster of the H1N1 virus at another camp.

Officials issued guidelines to help camp staffs identify and prevent the virus. Schultz said anyone with flu symptoms should stay home for seven days after symptoms begin and until 24 hours after acute symptoms are gone.

"Right now, because we have no vaccine for H1N1, it's important to protect people who may be more susceptible or vulnerable to influenza," Schultz said.

Nearly 450 cases of the new flu virus have been confirmed in Minnesota, including one death.