More flu cases confirmed at Conn. veterans home

ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) — Four more veterans at the state veterans' home have been hospitalized for treatment following an outbreak of influenza at the Rocky Hill complex.

State Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a total of 22 veterans have been sent to area hospitals since Monday. One veteran has returned to the home, which includes a health care center and a residential facility.

Schwartz said public health officials have taken nasal swabs of residents reporting flu-like symptoms to determine if this is an identified flu strain. Schwartz said the outbreak is unusual because the veterans had received flu shots. Also, it is late in the flu season.

Schwartz said the veterans being hospitalized remain in stable condition and 11 staff are off work with flu-like symptoms.