Possible Cases of Swine Flu in Ala and Miss

Alabama Mississippi The Alabama Department of Public Health has started receiving samples of what might be swine flu from Baldwin and Pike counties.

by The Associated Press

Published: Mon, April 27, 2009 - 3:37 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, April 27, 2009 - 4:10 pm CST

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Department of Public Health has started receiving samples of what might be swine flu from doctors around the state who suspect their patients could have the virus.

Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Charles Woernle (Wurn'-lee) says the department's lab began stocking up on extra supplies Monday in preparation for an onslaught of specimens.

He said the labs have received several samples from Baldwin and Pike counties so far.

Woernle said any confirmation will take a while because samples that are validated at the state level must then be sent to the Centers for Disease Control for final confirmation.

The receipt of specimens comes just a day after State Health Officer Don Williamson said Alabama had no swine flu cases but it would only be a matter of time.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi health officer Dr. Ed Thompson says there's been no confirmed case of swine flu in the state, but officials have requested additional dosages of medicine used to treat the illness.

Thompson says the state Department of Health is in the process of testing 10 specimens taken from patients, and if any are believed to be swine flu, they'll be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation.

Thompson says the flu strain that has killed about 150 in Mexico and sickened others in five states is likely to eventually make it to Mississippi.

Thompson says the state has requested 75,000 additional dosages of Tamiflu, which is being used to treat the symptoms of swine flu.

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BamaBob Says:

Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 4:29 pm

ickthus Says:

Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 3:52 pm

The CDC web site said it is a simple test and your doctor wound know within a hour after the test, if it was “A” or swine flu. the gov. so full of it. with all the illegals in this country we will be up to our little pig ears with it yesterday.