FLORIDA - With the state's second death.... and more than 550 others sick....Florida health officials want to make sure people don't forget to keep their guard up against the swine flu.

As Channel Three capitol reporter Whitney Ray tells us....the plan is to use schools to fight the outbreak if it worsens.

The H1N1 Swine Flu Virus has claimed the lives of two Floridians. A 9 year-old boy became the first victim. A 30 year-old Seminole County woman died earlier this week. In both cases other illnesses contributed to the deaths.

Doc Kokol / Florida Health Department
"We will probably see more hospitalizations and perhaps more deaths involved with this."

The number of swine flu cases in Florida has quietly risen to 556 since the first case was confirmed in May. Scott McPherson, a pandemic expert, says the virus poses a serious threat.

Scott McPherson / Pandemic Expert
"This is a very new, very young virus it has not entrenched itself in everyplace in this country yet, but it is continuing to grow. It is continuing to infect people."

Swine flu has claimed 87 lives nationwide 17 in the past week.

Whitney Ray / Reporter
"And if the pandemic gets worse, schools could become key to helping fight an outbreak."

School districts have pandemic plans in place.

Wayne Blanton / Florida School Boards Association
"There is actually a state plan, in the case of a huge natural disaster to turn certain schools in every district into mini clinics and mini hospitals if we have to."

Swine flu vaccinations could also be administered at schools once enough doses have been produced.

It's important to note that the seasonal flu claims 36-thousand lives in the us every year.
That's far more than the 87 swine flu deaths in America since April.Florida's Swine Flu Contingency Plan