Alabama Joins Texas In Cancelling All High School Sports Events Due To Swine Flu Concerns

April 30, 2009 11:19 a.m. EST

Montgomery, AL (AHN) - Alabama became the second state to cancel all high school sports, making the decision late Wednesday night due to swine flu concerns.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association, the state's governing body for prep sports, hopes to continue sports events Tuesday.

Track and field championships that were to commence this weekend at Gulf Shores and Troy will require rescheduling due to the decision.

Other sports affected include baseball, softball, soccer and golf.

The decision may stem in part from a child testing positive for influenza Thursday morning at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which then closed the facility according to the Birmingham News.

The child's illness has not been confirmed to be swine flu, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The paper also reports Alabama's public health lab has over 75 new specimens it needs to test for swine flu.

Alabama joins Texas in making the decision to postpone high school sports.

The Lone Star state, which also closed all public schools, hopes to restore sports on May 11.