American Forces Press Service confirms swine flu case in Calif.

ARLINGTON, Va. The American Forces Press Service on Wednesday confirmed a swine flu case at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

A male Marine reported to a medical clinic on base over the weekend complaining of flu-like symptoms, the report read. Initial test results indicate the H1N1 virus, and the service is waiting for further results from testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Marine Corps Gen. James Conway said. The Marine and his roommate have both been quarantined.

“Our base commanders are all very much attentive to what's taking place,” Conway said during a press briefing Wednesday. “The battalion surgeon, a very aggressive, young Navy lieutenant, has identified 37 other Marines that he has come in contact with, over the weekend, before he came in. Those people have also been, at this point, set aside. And they're being watched and tested and given the Tamiflu, to prevent any further exposure to the disease, on their part.”

The 37 are not officially quarantined, but are not allowed in public places such as unit formations and dining facilities.

The southern-California base is about 200 miles from the Mexican border, but the Marine had not visited Mexico, Conway said.