Athletics | 4/30/2009 10:40:11 PM

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Due to a possible case of the 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) of a Western Oregon University student, all WOU sporting events will be cancelled Friday, May 1 thru Monday May 4.

This includes the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, football's Spring Game 2 and both the baseball games at Central Washington and the softball games at Western Washington. These games will not be rescheduled.

The Oregon University system and the Oregon Department of Public Health have recommended closure of the campus at least through Monday. "President John Minahan has accepted that recommendation," WOU athletic director Jon Carey said.

One student is suspected of contracting the disease. The student, who lives off campus, exhibited flu-like symptoms earlier this week and tested positive for influenza A at the WOU Student Health Center.

The Polk County Health Department was notified and a specimen was sent to the State of Oregon Health Department lab. WOU officials were notified Thursday that the specimen would require further testing by the Center for Disease Control.

"There is a high probability that the student has swine flu," Carey said. "He has been tested and we are waiting for confirmation of the diagnosis from the CDC. If the tests come back negative, the campus could reopen on Tuesday."

"We believe there may be a large number of students that could have been exposed," Carey said.