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SEEKONK - Swine flu may have hit area schools.

In what could be the first confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu in Attleboro area school children, the superintendent of Seekonk schools said Thursday that the parents of two students report doctors have told them their children have the virus.

Several cases were also reported in Taunton schools.

The reports have caused some confusion and anxiety, especially at a time when people are being encouraged to get the H1N1 vaccination, but there has been a delay in getting it because of a lag in nationwide production.

Seekonk Superintendent Madeline Meyer said Thursday afternoon that a letter was sent out to parents earlier in the day regarding cases of H1N1. But the town's health agent, Beth Hallal, said that as far as she knew, there had been no confirmed cases of the H1N1 verified through the state Department of Public Health as of 2:40 p.m. Thursday.

Hallal said there have been reports of children with flu-like symptoms, but for H1N1 to be confirmed it must be reported by doctors to the state health department, which in turn notifies the local board of health.

She said in the community as a whole, there had been no confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu.

A call to the state's public health department was not immediately returned.

Meyer said she released the information "because we wanted parents to know."

She said she also wanted to notify school staff, some of whom are pregnant and have medical conditions, two of the groups that are more susceptible to complications from the virus.

Diagnosis also seems to be clouding the issue.

Meyer said the reporting process seems to be a confusing one, with some doctors telling people not to come into the office if they have flu-like symptoms and others who say they are unable to specifically test for H1N1.

Still others say it is too early for the seasonal flu, so they are surmising it's H1N1.

She did not talk directly to the doctors of the students involved. The two students with flu-like symptoms are currently out of school and have not required hospitalization, Meyer said.

One of the cases is a high school student, Principal Marcia McGovern said.

School officials in Seekonk, like officials in all area school districts, are encouraging parents to report flu-like symptoms and to keep their children at home if they are sick.

Other protocols include adherence to flu prevention etiquette, such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs.

McGovern's letter also said the schools will be offering an H1N1 clinic when the vaccine becomes available.

In the meantime, parents are asked to monitor their children with flu-like symptoms, which include a fever greater than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose and fatigue.

If a child is at high risk because of asthma, diabetes, cardiac disease, a suppressed immune system or other conditions - and displays flu-like symptoms - parents are advised to call their health care provider immediately for possible treatment with antiviral medication.