Obama team aide thought to have flu

A SECURITY aide helping with arrangements during US President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Mexico became sick with flu-like symptoms and three members of his family later contracted probable swine flu, the White House said.

“This individual never flew on Air Force One,” said press secretary Robert Gibbs. “He was asked specifically if he ever came within six feet of the president and the answer was no.”

The aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu arrived in Mexico on April 13 and became ill on April 16. He developed a fever on April 17, the day Obama left Mexico. He flew back commercially to Washington on April 18; Gibbs had no details yet on whether people on that flight had been notified.