By Josh Chase, Correspondent

The local student who last week became the first reported victim of the H1N1 virus in the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District recovered at home and “is doing quite well,” Superintendent Sue Ann Gruver said Thursday.

The student, who attends Prior Lake High School, contracted the virus (also known as swine flu) after her first day at a school-related summer day camp, said Gruver. The girl stopped attending the camp after becoming sick.

She was not hospitalized and was treated at home “like a normal flu,” the superintendent added.

“It isn’t serious,” Gruver said of the girl’s illness. “There aren’t any long-term ramifications for us here.”

In the event that another student becomes ill with the virus, the district will notify the parents of any student that could have been exposed, said the superintendent, who noted that she doesn’t expect the virus to become a widespread issue for students and staff.

“To my knowledge, nobody else has been diagnosed, but we will continue our communications if and when any other cases are found,” Gruver said. “We’ll rely on parents to let us know [about any other contractions].”

Minnesota Department of Health spokesperson Buddy Ferguson said the state can’t confirm the case, but he added that the girl’s doctor could have tested for influenza. To date, there have been 402 confirmed H1N1 cases in the metro area.

Josh Chase can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jchase@swpub.com.