The first cases of the flu have been confirmed by the state public health laboratory. The cases were from Bartow and Cobb counties.

According to Logan Boss, spokesman for Northwest Georgia Public Health, these cases occurred prior to the sickness that spread through Midway Primary School. There are still no confirmed lab results for the tests conducted on the Midway school students.

The results from Bartow and Cobb counties were from private physicians who work with the Center for Disease Control who independently report possible flu cases. The CDC relies on this network to find and prevent flu outbreaks since the flu isn’t a reportable disease.

Due to the complicated process in determining a flu outbreak, the results from samples submitted from Midway Primary School aren’t expected until possibly next week.

The cases of the flu confirmed in Georgia were common influenza A (H1) and influenza B viruses as opposed to Avian Influenza.

Health officials recommend anyone with flu like symptoms limit contact with others.

People are encouraged to get the flu vaccination and to practice good hand washing to protect them from getting the flu.