Report: Member of Obama's Security Team Likely Has Swine Flu

By: E&P Staff The White House has confirmed that a member of President Obama's security team -- who traveled with him recently to Mexico -- has likely contracted swine flu.

The Washington Post broke the story about 2 p.m. and press secretary Gibbs quickly confirmed.

Boston Globe's Foon Rhee now reports as follows.
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The swine flu outbreak could be hitting close to home for the Obama administration, spokesman Robert Gibbs disclosed this afternoon.

A member of the advance team for President Obama's trip earlier this month to Mexico has flu-like symptoms, but others in the delegation are fine and without any symptoms.

The staffer never flew on Air Force One, and though he was at a working dinner attended by Obama, never came within six feet of the president, Gibbs said.

Gibbs said the security staffer for Energy Secretary Stephen Chu arrived in Mexico on April 13, began to feel ill, returned to the United States on April 18, and returned to work at the department.

Three family members have since come down with the flu, and they are being tested for the new swine flu virus, Gibbs said, adding that Chu has not had any symptoms, Gibbs said.

Given how much time has passed from the Mexico trip, it's "highly, highly, highly unlikely" that anyone in the US delegation was infected, Gibbs said.