The state yesterday confirmed three new cases of swine flu in the Islands, bringing the total to 33.

Two of the new cases were students at public schools.

One attends 'Anuenue School in Palolo and the other is a Mililani Mauka Elementary School student.

The third case is a preschool-age child who does not attend school.

It is unknown how the child caught the flu.

In all, 16 of the swine flu — or H1N1 virus — cases in Hawai'i have been directly linked to public schools. Of those, 11 have been connected to 'Anuenue School.

Three other cases of the flu have been indirectly linked to the school. Those cases include two 'Ewa Elementary School students who came in contact with a sibling who attends 'Anuenue. An infant confirmed to have the flu Friday was also in contact with two previously identified cases at 'Anuenue, officials said.

At 'Anuenue yesterday, teachers spent a regularly scheduled afternoon meeting discussing the swine flu cases so far. Principal Charles Naumu said the meeting was meant to reassure teachers who may be concerned.

"It's to update the teachers as to what has happened," he said.

Naumu stressed that there are no plans to close the school.

He also said yesterday that attendance at the school is slowly returning to normal, as parents' fears over swine flu cases at the school subside. On Friday, about 50 percent of the student body was absent. But on Tuesday, only about 25 percent of students were gone. Naumu did not have absentee numbers for yesterday.

He also pointed out that students who have had swine flu and received a clean bill of health are starting to return to school.

So far, he said, two of the confirmed cases at 'Anuenue have returned.

The number of cases at 'Anuenue has spurred some to call for the school's closure so it can be disinfected.

But others say closing the school would do no good.

Yesterday, some parents also said 'Anuenue students and teachers are being stigmatized. The Hawaiian immersion charter school has 353 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

"We're getting blamed" for spreading the flu, said Rafaela Lewis, the mother of an 'Anuenue junior.

"But it's not just our school. I don't like people stereotyping."

Sheila Waiwaiole, of Kalihi, said she "took the lead" from her 10th-grade son, who told her that he wasn't going to let swine flu keep him from attending classes at 'Anuenue. She said the number of swine flu cases at the school is "unfortunate." But, she added, "the upside is they're learning how to handle" media attention.

In addition to 'Anuenue, 'Ewa and Mililani Mauka, cases of swine flu have been seen at 'Aina Haina Elementary and Mililani Middle School along with the University of Hawai'i. The first three diagnosed cases of swine flu in Hawai'i were confirmed May 5, and involved an Army couple and a school-aged child.