Ernst + Young employee has swine flu: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Another New York City case of swine flu has been confirmed, striking an employee at the accounting firm of Ernst & Young, CBS News reported late on Monday.

Workers at the company's Times Square offices were notified on Monday that an employee had been diagnosed with swine flu.

The virus has afflicted at least 28 students of a New York City private high school, all of whom were reported to be recovering from mild cases. The school was closed on Monday.

An Ernst & Young e-mail said its employee became ill Sunday after contact with a family member who had been exposed to the virus. It said woman employee had been treated and was resting at home and was doing well.

The employee had not been at work since Thursday. The e-mail said that since the disease has a 24-hour incubation period, it was unlikely that other Ernst & Young workers would be affected but they were given the option of working from home, CBS reported.

Employees of the firm also were told that areas of the building that could possibly have been contaminated had been closed for cleaning, and that anyone who had contact with the affected employee had been so notified.

Swine flu has killed up to 149 people in Mexico and sickened about 2,000 so far, official said. More than 40 mostly mild cases have been diagnosed in five U.S. states, with more expected. There have been no known U.S. fatalities.

Representatives of Ernst & Young could not be reached late Monday for confirmation.

WNBC television reported that New Jersey health officials suspect five probable cases of swine flu in people who recently traveled to Mexico or California. The symptoms are reportedly mild and no one has been in hospital, the station said citing the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

Test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected within two days.

(Reporting and writing by Chris Michaud; Editing by Bill Trott)