I noticed a strange drop-off in numbers from my state and others last week and decided to do some digging. The CDC on May 4th posted on their web site the following...
"Clinicians should test persons for the novel influenza (H1N1) virus if they have an acute febrile respiratory illness or sepsis-like syndrome...." "Priority for testing includes persons who 1) require hospitalization or 2) are at high-risk for severe disease (as listed above)."
A quick search unveiled the following states who seem to be following these guidelines and a few which are strictly limiting testing to hospitalized patients only. (some reading required, try searching for the term 'hospitalization' within the documents)...
Nevada... (http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10329469)
Illinois... (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/state&id=6792544)
Illinois... (http://www.kanesheriff.com/Events/pressPDF.aspx?pdfId=50)
Minnesota... (http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_12297696)
Arizona... (http://arizonaein.blogspot.com/2009/05/h1n1-update-for-arizona-state-lab.html)
Oregon... (http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/flu/provider_testing.pdf)
Louisiana... (http://www.kplctv.com/global/story.asp?s=10331291)
California... (http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/vgn/images/portal/cit_609/25/38/1368150742Hospital_Staff_Q_A_Swine_Flu_5_4_09.pdf)
California... (http://www.co.napa.ca.us/GOV/Departments/40000/Forms/4%20May%20Napa%20Hosp%20Health%20Alert.pdf)
Rhode Island... (http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_wpri_flu_scare_testing_criteria_20090504_bt)
I have personally been tracking the spread in my state so I would have a heads up and could pull my children from school before an outbreak occurred. Apparently I will no longer be forewarned unless the initial case is severe and requires hospitalization.
"Clinicians should test persons for the novel influenza (H1N1) virus if they have an acute febrile respiratory illness or sepsis-like syndrome...." "Priority for testing includes persons who 1) require hospitalization or 2) are at high-risk for severe disease (as listed above)."
A quick search unveiled the following states who seem to be following these guidelines and a few which are strictly limiting testing to hospitalized patients only. (some reading required, try searching for the term 'hospitalization' within the documents)...
Nevada... (http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10329469)
Illinois... (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/state&id=6792544)
Illinois... (http://www.kanesheriff.com/Events/pressPDF.aspx?pdfId=50)
Minnesota... (http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_12297696)
Arizona... (http://arizonaein.blogspot.com/2009/05/h1n1-update-for-arizona-state-lab.html)
Oregon... (http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/flu/provider_testing.pdf)
Louisiana... (http://www.kplctv.com/global/story.asp?s=10331291)
California... (http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/vgn/images/portal/cit_609/25/38/1368150742Hospital_Staff_Q_A_Swine_Flu_5_4_09.pdf)
California... (http://www.co.napa.ca.us/GOV/Departments/40000/Forms/4%20May%20Napa%20Hosp%20Health%20Alert.pdf)
Rhode Island... (http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_wpri_flu_scare_testing_criteria_20090504_bt)
I have personally been tracking the spread in my state so I would have a heads up and could pull my children from school before an outbreak occurred. Apparently I will no longer be forewarned unless the initial case is severe and requires hospitalization.