NORTH ATTLEBORO - The swine flu has been confirmed in North Attleboro schools and is strongly suspected in other area school systems.

There is one confirmed case of H1N1, also known as the swine flu, at the elementary school level, Judy Aubin, the school department's nurse leader, said Tuesday.

The district has also been notified there are multiple cases of Type A influenza, which are probable but unconfirmed cases of H1N1.

"It's here, it has arrived," Aubin said, adding that the district is working with the assumption that all flu cases are H1N1, even if the cases are not officially confirmed by the state Department of Health.

Type A influenza can be either H1N1 or the seasonal flu, but since health officials consider it too early for the seasonal flu to appear, it is assumed those cases are H1N1, Public Health Nurse Anne Marie Fleming said. North Attleboro is not the only schools system facing the virus - Foxboro and Norton both have confirmed cases and Seekonk has probable but unconfirmed cases, as well.

While vaccines are not expected to arrive at the town's health department and schools until mid-December, preparations are already under way for how the vaccination clinics will be handled. The supply is expected to be limited, so the vaccines will go to those who are considered at high risk for complications from the H1N1 flu.

Fleming said the vaccine will first be made available to pregnant women who have been unable to get it elsewhere. Those women will be placed on a list and contacted by the health department when the vaccine shipment comes in.

Pregnant women seeking a vaccination from the town can be placed on the vaccination list by calling the health department at 508-699-0103 from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Once pregnant women are vaccinated, Fleming said if the supply is limited, it will mostly be used to vaccinate school children, starting at the elementary level.

Parents who want their children on the list for the H1N1 vaccination need to fill out a form, which is available on the school district's Web site at www.naschools.net. Those forms must be returned to the school department by Nov. 16.

For those worried about the seasonal flu, the town expects to receive more of that vaccine, also in December. No flu clinics are currently scheduled but information will be publicized once the town has the vaccination in hand, Fleming said.