Western State Hospital patients have swine flu

Some Western State Hospital patients have confirmed cases of swine flu, state and local officials said Tuesday.

The state Department of Social and Health Services reported the cases to the health district March 16, state Department of Social and Health Services spokeswoman Kathy Spears told The Associated Press. There are four patient cases, isolated to one 30-person ward. One staff member is also infected with the H1N1 virus.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is working with the Lakewood psychiatric hospital to confirm the cases and make sure patients get treatment, county spokesman Steve Metcalf said. All procedures were followed properly, officials said.

Staff were notified via email about the number of cases and the ward in which they occurred.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Western State Hospital patients have swine flu."