Saturday, June 20, 2009

MDA camps in Tennessee canceled because of swine flu threat

From WBIR-TV in Knoxville:


The Muscular Dystrophy Association has canceled its summer camp programs for the remainder of the summer due to the threat of swine flu.

The national office for MDA said three camps in three states have had several cases of swine flu.

MDA feels the highly contagious H1N1 virus presents extra threat for kids with muscular dystrophy, due to muscular dystrophy's tendency to depress the immune system and weaken the respiratory system.

The MDA had already held about 33 camps and had approximately 50 more scheduled through the end of August.

Two campers have been hospitalized with swine flu symptoms. One has already been released, and the other's condition is improving.

The camps for Tennessee are Camp Discovery in middle Tennessee and at Land Between the Lakes.