• By MARSHA SILLS
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Apr 30, 2009 - UPDATED: 3:52 p.m.

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LAFAYETTE — Three more Diocese of Lafayette elementary schools will close tomorrow after students in the schools tested positive for Type A influenza.

The closed schools are: Our Lady of Fatima School and St. Pius of Lafayette and St. Cecilia School in Broussard.

Officials said there is one confirmed Type A case at Fatima and two each at the other two schools.

“We really are erring on the side of caution,” said Anna Larrivierre, Diocese of Lafayette schools superintendent.

Another confirmed case of Type A influenza was reported at a Lafayette public school, Katharine Drexel Elementary, this morning. So far, no public school closures have been announced.

On Wednesday, state officials closed a parochial school, Cathedral-Carmel in Lafayette after five students tested positive for Type A influenza. Gov. Bobby Jindal is expected to announce the results of the lab work at a 5 p.m. press conference today.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health and Hospitals announced that Orleans, St. Martin and St. Tammany parishes each have one reported case of Type A influenza that is under investigation.

Also today, as a precaution, Westminster Christian Academy sent home eight students who had traveled to Mexico during spring break.

“We sent healthy students home,” said Merida Brooks, Westminster Christian Academy superintendent. “It’s just a precautionary measure.”

Three students from the academy’s Lafayette campus were sent home and five from its Opelousas campus were sent home.

Those students who do not show flu-like symptoms over the weekend may return to school on Monday.

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10:50 a.m.