WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | SC among states reporting 'widespread' swine flu

SC among states reporting 'widespread' swine flu

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina is back among the list of states reporting the swine flu is widespread.

For the past few weeks, South Carolina has been among few states reporting the flu was regional, the second-highest level. That's been upgraded in this week's report, which covers Oct. 25-31.

An infectious disease expert says the caseload never really dipped.

Dr. Helmut Albrecht of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine says the dip was largely due to delayed reporting. He says family doctors were so busy, they weren't able to turn in their numbers in time.

Jim Beasley, a spokesman for the state's health agency, says doctors are reporting influenza-like illness, but the only flu seen in South Carolina now is the H1N1 virus.

People lining up for the vaccine are hoping to avoid the H1N1 flu. But if you already have symptoms, how is it confirmed?
    
Beasley explains there are three levels in determining if someone has the flu. The first is "observation."

"When you experience things like a scratchy cough, headache, fever, just the body aches where you feel lousy, chances are you're going to go to the doctor," said Beasley. "You're going to tell him that's how you feel and he's going to say 'you know what? That sounds like influenza-like illness. I'm going to prescribe something to treat it.'  That's step one."
    
The second level is the rapid flu test, done in the doctor's office or hospital while you wait. Results take no more than a half hour.

"That's where they stick the nasal swab in your nose, take a little back to the back room and they run it through a rapid flu kit and they're able to determine there actually appears to be Influenza Type A." said Beasley.

The third level is the "gold standard," if you will: the lab test.

"That takes roughly 48 hours," said

But doctors are advised if it appears to be flu, go ahead and treat as such immediately.

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