DYER | Two boys and possibly a third student at Protsman Elementary School in Dyer have contracted swine flu, school officials confirmed Thursday.

Lake Central School Corp. administrators were notified Thursday by the Lake County Health Department that the two boys, both Dyer residents, tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, also known as swine flu, said Larry Veracco, the school district's director of personnel.

Both of the boys, who are not related, were administered Tamiflu, are no longer experiencing flu symptoms and have returned to school. By the time their cases were confirmed, they already were back in class and feeling better, Veracco said.

The elementary school has a third probable case of swine flu, but school officials are waiting for confirmation from health authorities. The student suspected of having the virus already is back in school and free of symptoms, Veracco said.

Workers planned to sanitize the entire building Thursday evening with Spray Nine, a hard surface disinfectant registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to the school.

Parents were notified of the situation via a recorded message through an emergency phone call system, Veracco said.

The school will remain open, based on recommendations from local and national health advisers, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana State Board of Health, Lake County Health Department and the state epidemiologist, Veracco said.

"They said, based on the history of the virus, this has not been that severe and to take a different approach (than closing the school)," he said. "We are just going by their recommendation."

The school district is asking parents to keep their children home from school if they are coughing or sneezing, until they are free of symptoms, he said.

The script read by Lake Central administration in the emergency phone message to parents:

Good afternoon, this is Dr. Gerald Chabot Superintendent of Lake Central School Corporation

Earlier today, our office was notified by the Lake County Health Department that two Protsman Elementary students tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus.

Both students were recently administered the Tamaflu vaccine, are now symptom free, and have returned to school.

Protsman parents can be assured that the entire building is being sanitized this evening with "Spray Nine", an EPA-Registered hard surface disinfectant.

After conferring with the Center for Disease Control, the Indiana State Board of Health, the Lake County Health Department, and the state epidemiologist, we have received a consistent recommendation that it is prudent to keep all schools open at this time.

We have also been advised that any student who is coughing or sneezing should be kept home from school until the student is symptom free.

Universal precautions should be followed by all citizens including: frequent washing of hands, covering your mouth with a tissue during a cough or sneeze, or sneezing or coughing into you sleeve, (not hands), if no tissue is available.

We will continue to monitor this situation with diligence because the safety and health of our students is paramount.

Thank you for your attention to this important message.