24 flu cases now confirmed

Nine more people have contracted swine flu in San Diego County, bringing the total number of confirmed local cases to 24, health officials announced today.

Among the newly confirmed local H1N1 influenza virus cases are students at three area schools, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

Those schools -- Kearny High School in Kearny Mesa, the School of Creative and Performing Arts in Paradise Hills and Mission Hills High School in San Marcos-- have been closed until May 18.

One of the new cases, an 18-year-old woman, was hospitalized but has since recovered, according to the HHSA.

Two of the nine people confirmed with swine flu today had traveled to Mexico, county officials said.

According to a statement from San Diego State University, one of the newly confirmed cases of swine flu is a student who lives off campus and who was previously suspected of having the virus.

No one who came into contact with the infected student has come down with swine flu, according to SDSU, which added the campus will remain open at the recommendation of the HHSA.

San Diego State’s campus daycare center was closed Monday after 20 children and three staff members reported flu-like symptoms.

“All tests done thus far on children and staff of the SDSU Children’s Center have come back negative,” SDSU’s statement read.

All of the students are now doing better or have fully recovered, according to SDSU. A decision whether to reopen the daycare center is pending, according to SDSU.