The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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October 2, 2009

Swine flu so prevalent there is no testing

By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer

The hysteria surrounding H1N1, also known as swine flu, has subsided to the point most places aren’t even testing people who have symptoms, local health officials say.

Stephen Rempe, executive director of Garfield County Health Department, said neither the state or county health departments are testing for H1N1 anymore.

“The state Health Depart-ment has not kept up with it because it is so prevalent that it is assumed that if they have flu-like symptoms, they have H1N1,” he said. “The only way to know is to have it lab confirmed. It is up to the individual if they want to have it lab confirmed, but it is like $300. If you are sick with flu- like symptoms you probably have H1N1.”

St. Mary’s Regional Me-dical Center and Integris Bass Baptist Health Center are not testing for H1N1, but they are testing for influenza A.

“Our emergency department and urgent care clinics are seeing large numbers of people presenting with flu-like symptoms and testing positive for Type A influenza,” said Anita Andrew, director of public relations for Bass. “Unless they are hospitalized, emergency room patients testing positive for Type A influenza will not have their specimens tested for H1N1.”

“The ER is not testing for swine flu. The CDC has said that it is not the time of the year for seasonal flu, so if anyone tested positive for influenza A they have swine flu. There are 10 confirmed cases of influenza in the ER (Wednesday), all children,” said Lori Earl, corporate communications specialist for St. Mary’s.

Although H1N1 is not being tested at St. Mary’s and Bass, both have seen an increase in activity in the emergency rooms.

“Over the past month our emergency room visits have increased by 20-30 percent,” said Andrew.

People are encouraged to use common sense if they are sick with the flu.

“We are encouraging the public to use good, common sense, talk to your care provider about getting a flu shot, wash your hands frequently, cover your cough, avoid touching your face and stay home if you are sick,” said Andrew.

Seasonal flu vaccines are available now, and H1N1 vaccination will be available in the next few weeks.

Garfield County Health Depart-ment’s first free seasonal flu shot clinic will be 1-6 p.m. Tuesday at Cherokee Strip Conference Center.

The first clinic will be for high-risk people only, including people who have upper respiratory illnesses, asthma, heart problems, chronic illnesses and have had surgery in the last 30 days. Another clinic will be held for everyone else when the rest of the seasonal flu vaccination comes in.

When the H1N1 vaccination is available, probably mid-October, the health department will begin distributing it, starting with high-risk categories, including pregnant women, caregivers of children up to 6 months, health care workers, people 4 to 25 with chronic illnesses and all children 6 months to 24 years of age.

The high-risk groups will be able to receive the H1N1 vaccine, when available, at the health department.

When the health department begins to get the H1N1 vaccination, it will be small amounts regularly so there is no rush for people to immediately get it, Rempe said. 

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