Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The state of Rhode Island plans to scale back its swine-flu testing program, offering tests only to people whose flu-like symptoms are so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

So far, all the suspected cases of swine flu in Rhode Island, and nearly all in the rest of the country, have been mild enough that people recovered at home.

The shift in testing policy, to take effect sometime this week, was recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It results from the observation that widespread testing is no longer yielding useful information.

More can be learned from tracking school absenteeism and reports of influenza-like illnesses in emergency rooms, clinics and doctor's offices, said Rhode Island Health Director David R. Gifford. So far none of those sources have seen an upsurge in illness, but outbreak is in its first days.

About 90 percent of the tests sent to the CDC from around the country were coming back positive, and not everyone who experienced symptoms has been tested, Gifford said.

"We know we've now got it," Gifford said. "We don't need to keep testing for all 39 towns to tell us we have it in Rhode Island."

The state tested a few dozen people who had flu-like symptoms and had traveled to areas with outbreaks. Of those, nine were deemed probable swine flu cases and sent to the CDC for further testing. One case was confirmed, in a Westerly man. One was found not to be swine flu, in a North Kingstown High School student. The other seven cases are still pending, but if national patterns hold, most will be confirmed as swine flu. The people who got sick come from all regions of the state.

Extra: More about swine flu, locally and nationally

 Tags  pandemic swine flu

Comments

Butch said:

enough of this Swine Foolishness......God, what a namy-pamby group this country has become....a simple flu bug causes people to run amok

Link | May 4, 2009 8:32 PM
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Greg said:

Will the local/national news media outlets PLEASE take the cue and scale back your coverage as well? Please?!

Link | May 4, 2009 8:57 PM
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