OTTAWA - The first reported case of H1N1 flu affecting a young child in The Pantagraph area was reported Thursday in LaSalle County, bringing to four the number of confirmed cases in that county. | MyPantagraph: Streator Neighborhood

The new case is a 10-year-old, but no other information was available. Previous LaSalle County cases have involved people from 22 to 49 years old.

The news was released the same day that Cook County reported two young adults have died from the flu, bringing the state's total fatalities from the illness to 10.

Cook County health officials say a 29-year-old women from Western Springs and a 29-year-old man from Mount Prospect died from the virus. Both victims had other health problems.

Illinois has had nearly 2,000 confirmed swine flu cases in 22 counties.

In Central Illinois, two cases have been confirmed in McLean County and three in Knox County. No cases were reported in DeWitt, Logan, Livingston, Tazewell, Ford or Woodford counties.

Those most at risk are people already ill from other diseases, children younger than 5, adults older than 65 and pregnant women.

People with flu-like symptoms should stay home, medical officials warn. Frequent hand washing is also recommended.

Stephen Martin Jr., chief operating officer of the Cook County health department, is urging people to wash their hands, cover their mouths when they cough and stay home when they're sick.

Federal health officials say swine flu will continue through July and August and into the fall and winter.

On the Net:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/swine_flu/index.htm