Swine Flu Hits Panhandle Air Force Operations

4 Hurlburt Field Airmen Test Positive; 59 Suspected Of Having Virus

POSTED: Thursday, July 30, 2009

EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. -- Swine flu has hit the Air Force's special operations command in northwest Florida.As many as 59 airmen at Hurlburt Field are suspected of having the virus, while another four have tested positive.First Special Operations Wing spokeswoman Amy Oliver said Wednesday they won't be testing the probable cases.Okaloosa County Health Department director Dr. Karen Chapman calls this the first sizable cluster in the area - and it won't be the last.Last week, the Florida Department of Health reported a total of 2,915 confirmed cases of swine flu. Another 22 residents infected with the virus have died.