Health authorities in the US state of Illiois reported the first A/H1N1 flu in the state outside the Chicago area on Saturday.

According to Health Director Damon Arnold, Sangamon County, about 340 kilometers south of Chicago and Winnebago County, about 160 kilometers northwest of Chicago, discovered one probable case each. The number of reported cases statewide rose to 88.

"We anticipated seeing cases of the H1N1 flu virus across Illinois, and we expect to see more," said Arnold in a statement.

"However, there is no need to be alarmed," because the state has medical supplies and antiviral drugs stockpiled if the outbreak becomes more deadly, he said.

Illinois has switched to a less aggressive testing standard as the number of A/H1N1 flu cases continues to grow. The state now recommends testing on hospitalized patients with severe symptoms in order to use resources more cautiously.

Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so far has confirmed three out of the 88 cases as A/H1N1 flu, and in-state testing has found the other 85 cases are probable A/H1N1 flu-- that is, that there is a more than 99 percent chance that the disease in those cases is the new strain of flu, according to health officials.

Health officials in Illinois say the state has enough flu drugs to treat more than 1 million people.

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2009)