Two deaths last week in Albany and Warren counties have been reported as the first deaths attributed to swine flu in the Capital Region.
In Albany County, Health Commissioner James Crucetti says an adolescent who died of complications related to a long-term illness last week was confirmed to have H1N1 influenza, more commonly known as swine flu.
Patricia Auer, Warren County's health services director, says an adult died at Glens Falls Hospital on Saturday as a result of the infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday that the flu is widespread in 48 states and hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase.
Meanwhile, local school officials say they have not heard of any confirmed swine flu cases in their districts.
Greater Johnstown School District Superintendent Katherine Sullivan said she has been in touch with Fulton County Public Health Director Denise Frederick, and no student has tested positive for swine flu.
"We will report it [to the county Public Health Department] if we have a case," Sullivan said.
She said the district has recently "had more absences than we typically would have."
The Gloversville Enlarged School District already has reported a nearly 5 percent increase in high school absences so far this year.
Rumors also have been circulating about the virus in various local school districts. Broadalbin-Perth Central School District Superintendent Stephen Tomlinson sent a letter home with students Oct. 23 that addressed such rumors.
"I am writing to inform you that the rumor that Broadalbin-Perth schools are closed because of a large number of students with H1N1 (swine) flu is simply that: a rumor," Tomlinson wrote. "All schools are open and fully staffed, and to date we are not aware of any laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 in our community."
The school district's Web site says the district also is seeing "higher absenteeism than is typical for late October."
Officials with public health departments in Fulton and Montgomery counties could not be reached for comment today.
St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam recently established new visitation policies that prevent children ages 12 and younger from entering the hospital's patient ward. The hospital also has restricted visits by those with flu-like symptoms.
Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville also has established new visitation policies in its hospital wards.
The hospital now prohibits children ages 12 and younger from visiting patients in the hospital, and is restricting visits by people who have flu-like symptoms or an acute illness.
Visitors are expected to wear a mask if they are asked to do so by a hospital employee. No more than two visitors are permitted in a room at any given time.
Littauer Vice President of Operations Susan Kiernan said the hospital could make an exception to this new policy "if there are special circumstances."
She said, however, "that is up to the discretion of the nursing supervisor."
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office has prohibited members of those same groups-children 12 and younger as well as those who exhibit flu-like symptoms-from visiting the county correctional facility.
Fulton County Residential Health Center Facility officials said today they are encouraging people who feel ill to not visit the building, since some residents could be susceptible to contracting a virus such as the swine flu.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.