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Swine Flu Tests No Longer Mandatory
posted 08/31/09 7:23 pm
Tulsa - Doctors are no longer required to test for the particular strain of flu known commonly as swine flu.
It's a much different story now than it was a few months ago. When the strain first showed up, samples were sent to the state health department every day for testing.
Now that the strain is so widespread, and most likely the diagnosis, tests are no longer being sent from Tulsa to the state.
8 Talkback:
Tulsa County Department of Health spokesperson Melanie Christian said it's too early to be seeing cases of the regular strains of annual flu. Sniffles, aches and fever this time of year are highly unusual.
"For the most part we assume those are cases of the H1N1 or the swine flu," Christian said.
Now that swine flu is so common, the cases are only assumed to be swine because doctors are no longer specifically testing for the virus.
"Fortunately, at this time, the severity remains relatively mild," Christian explained.
There are exceptions to that statement for those with chronic illness, people who have to be hospitalized, and pregnant women. Because of higher risk, folks that fall into these categories will receive a swine flu test that will be sent off to the state. Christian said with fewer people tested, it will skew the number of reported cases.
"That's not necessarily an accurate picture or the number I guess the magnitude of how many people are coming down with the flu," Christian said.
News Channel 8 spoke with a few Tulsans about swine flu precautions. The steps some will take include the standard flu shot and lots of hand washing.
Spokesperson Christian said doctors will treat symptoms regardless of the strain causing them.
"If a person has flu like symptoms the doctor is going to go ahead and treat them for the flu whether the test is positive or whether the test is conducted at all," Christian said.
While no longer conducting as many specific tests, the state health department still monitors emergency room activity every day for anything out of the ordinary and to keep track of the swine flu.
posted 08/31/09 7:23 pm
Tulsa - Doctors are no longer required to test for the particular strain of flu known commonly as swine flu.
It's a much different story now than it was a few months ago. When the strain first showed up, samples were sent to the state health department every day for testing.
Now that the strain is so widespread, and most likely the diagnosis, tests are no longer being sent from Tulsa to the state.
8 Talkback:
Tulsa County Department of Health spokesperson Melanie Christian said it's too early to be seeing cases of the regular strains of annual flu. Sniffles, aches and fever this time of year are highly unusual.
"For the most part we assume those are cases of the H1N1 or the swine flu," Christian said.
Now that swine flu is so common, the cases are only assumed to be swine because doctors are no longer specifically testing for the virus.
"Fortunately, at this time, the severity remains relatively mild," Christian explained.
There are exceptions to that statement for those with chronic illness, people who have to be hospitalized, and pregnant women. Because of higher risk, folks that fall into these categories will receive a swine flu test that will be sent off to the state. Christian said with fewer people tested, it will skew the number of reported cases.
"That's not necessarily an accurate picture or the number I guess the magnitude of how many people are coming down with the flu," Christian said.
News Channel 8 spoke with a few Tulsans about swine flu precautions. The steps some will take include the standard flu shot and lots of hand washing.
Spokesperson Christian said doctors will treat symptoms regardless of the strain causing them.
"If a person has flu like symptoms the doctor is going to go ahead and treat them for the flu whether the test is positive or whether the test is conducted at all," Christian said.
While no longer conducting as many specific tests, the state health department still monitors emergency room activity every day for anything out of the ordinary and to keep track of the swine flu.
