“Widespread” is the highest rating in the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s flu reporting system. It indicates that influenza cases have been reported in at least half of the state’s regions. State health officials believe that the virus previously known as “swine flu” is a prime culprit in the outbreak.

“Novel H1N1 has continued to cause illness in Minnesota all through the summer, and we have been anticipating a possible second wave of this illness,” said Dr. Sanne Magnan (pictured), the state’s health commissioner, in a statement announcing the new designation. “We strongly suspect that may be starting to happen now.”

More than 30 schools across the state have reported significant flu activity since classes began earlier this month. The state health department has asked schools to notify the agency if they believe more than five percent of their student population is absent because of flu-like symptoms.

So far there have been 272 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Minnesota. However, that’s likely a fraction of the total number of cases. That’s because the state health agency only tests in instances where the patient died or required hospitalization. Flu vaccinations that have proven effective in combating the virus are not slated to be available in Minnesota until next month.

It’s work that could help provide important clues to a “novel” disease of near-pandemic proportions that exhibits changes that so far have experts around the world guessing.

“This investigation that we’re doing here is crucial to understanding how this virus (spreads),” Magnan said.

She said despite tests on others, the person confirmed today as having the “novel H1N1 influenza” is still the only “probable” case found in the state.

The commissioner spoke at a press conference in Cold Spring this morning after a meeting with state and local officials. The town is home to Rocori Middle School, with which officials say the person with the new flu is “associated.”

“There will be more cases,” Gov. Tim Pawlenty predicted, repeating a warning that State Epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield made yesterday. But he said officials are certain of very little because of the unpredictable “wave phenomenon” attributed to the disease.

The governor was careful not to reveal information about the infected person, who he said “may not be a student” at Rocori Middle School. The school will remain closed for seven days, he said, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevenetion recommendations.

The board at neighboring St. Boniface Elementary School, which like the middle school was closed yesterday and today, will decide this afternoon whether to remain closed.

Rocori High School, site of a fatal school shooting incident in 2003, isn’t affected. “We don’t have any concern about elementary or high school (infections),” said Rocori Superintendent Scott Staska.

Asked about testing of the infected person’s family, Magnan answered only that that was part of the investigation.

Magnan, who said she arrived late at the press conference because she had been in a bathroom following her own advice about washing hands thoroughly, offered this declaration: “We are ready. We are ready as a state. We are ready as a region.”

One way the state is more ready than it was yesterday at this time: “All swine influenza (Web) pages were updated to reflect the new name of H1N1 novel influenza,” according to an e-mail from the Minnesota Department of Health sent Wednesday at 7:02 p.m.

“Dr. Magnan’s impressive credentials and hands-on health experience make her the right person to lead the Department of Health,”  Pawlenty said, according to a report by KMSP-TV. “Minnesota is ranked the healthiest state in the nation and I believe Dr. Magnan will build on that tradition as we continue to work on improving and reforming health care in our state and protecting and promoting the public’s health.”

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Magnan served as a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota and as staff physician at the Tuberculosis Clinic at the St. Paul-Ramsey County Department of Public Health.  In her current role with the institute, Magnan heads an organization that seeks to use new research to develop treatment guidelines.  Magnan also served as a vice president and medical director of consumer health for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, and headed Blue Cross Blue Shield’s center for prevention, which was created after the tobacco lawsuit settlement in 1998.

Magnan will face a difficult task in restoring confidence in the Minnesota Department of Health.  Mandernach had drawn stern criticism from Democratic members of the Legislature, who accused her department of hiding details about the cancer deaths of 35 miners for more than a year, which delayed a study into whether taconite miners are at increased risk of dying from mesothelioma.  Mandernach stated at the time that the “process took longer than expected, but we should have released the information sooner, with or without a plan of action.”  Though Pawlenty declined to fire her, Mandernach ultimately announced her resignation in August.