With confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States, local school district superintendents are asking students and parents to be especially vigilant when dealing with any flu-like symptoms and personal hygiene.

To comply with an order from the state Education Department, each of the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services component school districts Wednesday sent to parents a letter about the recent swine flu outbreak.

The letters went out on the same day an Onondaga County-based school district announced it will close today and Friday as a result of a likely case of swine flu. A Cortland County resident who attends the Fabius-Pompey district is believed to have the illness, officials said.

In Cayuga County, the letters from school districts advise parents to keep sick children that have flu-like symptoms - a fever of more than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, muscle pain, fatigue and vomiting or diarrhea - out of school and away from other people, such as child-care groups, the mall or athletic events, to prevent further exposure.

The number of confirmed cases in the United States continued to climb Wednesday.

“While the current situation does not warrant school closure,” the letters state, “if swine flu continues to spread and more students become ill, it may become necessary to close schools for a period of time.”

Districts are working with the state and county Health Departments and school medical directors to monitor the situation and determine a cause of action, the letters state. Should schools close, districts are asking parents to not make arrangements that would put their children in close contact with other children.

“It is important to plan ahead. Have a family discussion now to consider options in advance of the event of a school closing.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net