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FORT WORTH -- Fort Worth will close all of its 144 schools through at least May 8 because of swine flu concerns.
Superintendent Melody Johnson said only necessary staff at central administration would work.
The school district has about 80,000 students and 11,000 employees.
So far, Texas has 17 confirmed cases of swine flu.
Johnson had closed four campuses earlier in the day after probable cases were reported at those schools. They were McLean Middle, McLean 6th Grade Center, South Hills Elementary and Westcliff Elementary. The case at McLean Middle has since been confirmed.
Johnson had said earlier this week that she would only close schools if a case was confirmed. But after it was taking longer than the expected 48 hours to get such confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Johnson said today that she would close schools when there were probable cases.
She said the decision was based on a recommendation from the Tarrant County Health Department. The earliest students can return is May 11.
Tarrant County now has 10 probable cases in addtion to the one confirmed case. The health department also has five probable cases from nearby counties.
The Cleburne school district in nearby Johnson County has also closed its schools after four probable cases in its high school.
Richardson has closed one elementary amid swine flu concerns.
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