The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) closed its child care center on Thursday after a child enrolled there tested positive for influenza, according to university officials.

The child's illness has not been confirmed to be swine flu, said UAB spokeswoman Dale Turnbough. A sample has been sent to a state health lab for testing, she noted, adding the strain will be known in 24 hours.

The center provides daycare for pre-school age children of UAB employees and others affiliated with the university.

Alabama's public health lab has now been overwhelmed with more than 75 new specimens to test for swine flu, State Health Officer Don Williamson said at a press conference on Thursday morning.

"We are on the front end of an evolving situation," Williamson said, adding that final confirmation of swine flu in the state will come from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association on Wednesday night canceled all athletic events statewide through Monday. The events, including championships, will be rescheduled.

With typical, seasonal flu, 36,000 people nationwide die annually, about 500 to 700 in Alabama.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2009)