Gov. Linda Lingle said today there are three probable cases of swine flu in Hawaii.

The state has sent test results to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and confirmation is expected tomorrow or Wednesday.

"With 36 states now confirming cases ... it is only a matter of time before Hawaii identifies its first case," Dr. Chiyome Fukino, director of the state Department of Health, said in a statement faxed to media this afternoon. "... Fortunately, the three probable cases awaiting confirmation had mild illness and all have recovered at home."

The Department of Health said the three are all Oahu residents. Two are adults, one who recently traveled to Texas, and the third is a school-aged child who recently traveled to California.

State epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said in a statement that since the child did not attend school while ill, "at this time, school closure is not necessary.

"However, we have notified the Department of Education Superintendent Pat Hamamoto so that DOE may be fully apprised."

Park said healthcare workers who had contact with the child took the antiviral prophylaxis as a precaution. Park said one worker was sneezed on by the child and developed a sore throat but tested negative for swine flu.