Preparing for swine flu

Health officials says they’re ready to treat swine flu if it shows up in the Delaware Valley.

There are no confirmed cases of the swine flu in the Delaware Valley region, but health officials are adding to their stockpile of medications to fight the virus.
(Photo: Swine flu virus, courtesy CDC Public Health Image Library)

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[audio: 090427teflu.mp3]

The swine flu has leapfrogged to five states. Federal health officials say they can’t predict where the virus will spread next, but are bracing for more cases.

Antiviral medications like Tamiflu and Relenza can shorten the length of the illness and lessen symptoms.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware officials say they are expecting thousands of additional doses to arrive from the federal government in the next week.

Walsh: Since we don’t have any cases at presently certainly it is enough. When and if there is a further outbreak or any outbreak in New Jersey, then we will make a determination. Now surely it’s enough.

Dr. Susan Walsh is Deputy Commissioner of New Jersey’s Public Health Service. The state is expecting to have about 1.1 million doses of Tamiflu within the week.

Health officials are only recommending the drugs for people who already have swine flu, not for prevention.