Cochise County has its first confirmed case of swine flu, according to county health officials.

The case of swine-origin influenza, or H1N1, is from the northeastern part of the county and involves a man. The patient has not been hospitalized for the illness and has already recovered, official said.

On Thursday, the state health department issued a health alert, reporting the state’s first death from H1N1. According to a news release from Maricopa County, “A woman in her late 40s with underlying lung disease died last week from what appears to be complications of Novel H1N1 Influenza. This is the first death in Arizona associated with the new flu strain and the fourth in the nation.”

The Cochise County Health Department has started its disease investigation procedures in connection with its first case of H1N1.

“The state has asked us to fill out a 40-plus page form that we use for disease investigations,” said Vaira Harik, director of the county Health Department. “It’s intended to capture who you are, where you’ve been and who you’ve come into contact with.”

This flu isn’t behaving any differently than the seasonal influenza that is seen every year during flu season, Harik said.

“When deaths associated with this particular strain of flu are reported, there are usually underlying health problems,” she said.

Cochise County has three more flu cases at the lab, but Harik says “the Health Department has received no indications that they’re even suspicious of swine flu.”

Since this virus seems to be no more dangerous than seasonal influenza, the Arizona State Laboratory is now accepting positive influenza A test samples from hospitalized patients only. The same is true for county health departments and local providers. All have been directed to submit samples only from hospitalized patients.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not advising that schools or businesses close if they have a suspected or actual case of this strain of flu. But decisions for school closures or dismissals remain at the discretion of local school and public health authorities.

The Cochise County Health Department has posted a “Parents Checklist” on its Web site to assist parents and others in determining if a child needs to stay home from school when sick with a flu-like illness. That Web site is www.cochise.az.gov/swineflu.

Members of the public feeling sick with these symptoms also should stay home to avoid infecting others, with the exception of seeking medical care.

Health officials also urge the public to contact a health care provider and ask for advice about going to a clinic or other health care facility for treatment.

County health officials remain in contact with local hospitals, clinics and laboratories to assist with recommended disease surveillance and response activities.

The Health Department also is in touch with doctors and Ministry of Health officials in Sonora, Mexico, as part of its routine disease surveillance activities.