A confirmed case of the swine flu, also known as H1N1 influenza, was detected Wednesday at the Mount Nittany Medical Center, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed.

No information about the patient is available, said Raymond Vautour, medical director and department chair of the Laboratory at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Vautour said the hospital has been "working closely with local, state and national authorities for a number of years" to prepare for any type of medical situation.

"Mount Nittany Medical Center is better prepared than ever before to respond to a flu threat," he said. "With the emergence of bioterrorism, the SARS epidemic and avian flu, the medical center has developed organization plans to respond to such threats which would now include swine flu."

Penn State has also been preparing for a local swine flu case, university spokesman Geoff Rushton said.

"The fortunate thing is that there are far fewer people on campus then there was just a month ago," he said.

But with the start of the second summer session just weeks away and fall semester looming around the corner, Rushton said the university will maintain its levels of "preparation and vigilance."

"Historically, they say that you have to wait to see in the fall and winter when flu season returns if it will become more serious," Rushton said.

Some of the steps Mount Nittany has already taken include "enhanced surveillance in the emergency department" and thorough "inventorying and planning for supplies," Vautour said.

He described the plan as "purposefully fluid to address the ever-changing global situation at a local level."

Vautour advised locals to avoid work, crowds and public areas if they have flu-like symptoms. He added that Penn State students should prepare themselves with knowledge about the disease.

"Good hand washing is both preventative and valuable in limiting the spread of the disease," he said. "Thoroughly wash hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth."