Nine cases of swine flu confirmed in N.J., Del.

Five cases of swine flu have been confirmed in New Jersey and four more in Delaware, health officials said this afternoon.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services has said all five confirmed cases have mild forms of the flu and none has been hospitalized. It said four recently traveled to Mexico and the fifth had traveled to California.

Four students at the University of Delaware whose cass of swine flu were confirmed today also have mild symptoms and are recovering, officials with Delaware's Division of Public Health said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the cases in both states. Other probable cases from both states are awaiting testing.

One Pennsylvania case involving a child in Philadelphia who has recoverd has not been confirmed yet.

With confirmation from CDC that swine flu is present, routine testing of Delaware students is no longer required and all flu-like symptoms will be treated as potential swine flu, officials said.

Sufferers are being given Tamiflu or other anti-viral drugs.

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu and include fever, lack of appetite, coughing and fatigue.

The U.S. cases have appeared to be much milder than those in Mexico, although federal officials say they expected to see U.S. deaths from the virus.

About 36,000 people die annually from the complications of seasonal flu.

The University of Delaware, which has 20,000 students, will remain open for classes, but is canceling large public gatherings, officials said.

"It's a fairly mild case of influenza that our students have been suffering," said spokesman John Brennan, who participated in a joint press conference with the health department this afternoon. "We're not discussing the possibility of closing at this point."

Professors can opt to cancel their classes, Brennan said, but he wasn't aware of any who have done so.

The university has asked students to wash their hands and take other precautions, and it has advised students with flu symptoms to "self isolate."

The number of students showing up at university health clinics for treatment has grown to about 400.

In Philadelphia, City Council today unanimously passed a resolution by Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell for hearings on the city's response to the swine flu outbreak. Blackwell said she would schedule hearings as soon as possible.