H1N1 Slowing down in Illinois

The swine flu virus is continuing to slow in Illinois.

Illinois Department of Public Health officials on Friday reported only 18 new cases. No new swine flu deaths were reported.

Since April, there have been 3,443 confirmed and probable cases of swine flu in more than 40 Illinois counties. A total of 17 people have died from the virus in the state, the same number reported last week.

The department has been updating its state swine flu tally each Friday. But this week's update was delayed, and officials released updated case numbers to The Associated Press.

Also Friday, the federal government said schools should only close this fall if large numbers of students have swine flu, and schools could allow sick children to return 24 hours after a fever is gone.