Virginia will begin faster testing of suspected swine flu cases

 The state of Virginia still has no confirmed cases of swine flu, but will receive supplies later this week that will speed the process of testing specimens being sent in by doctors and hospitals across the commonwealth, a state health official said today.

Currently, specimen tests are sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which takes about 48 hours after the federal agency receives the samples to get results.

When the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratories begins receiving test kits later this week, that time will be reduced to less than 12 hours.

State officials won't reveal how many specimens it has received for testing, or how many suspected cases there are. Because there’s lag time involved in testing, the state is only reporting confirmed cases, said Bob Mauskapf, director of Operation, Planning and Logistics at the Virginia Department of Health.

Health-care providers across the state have been asked to be alert to cases of flu-like illnesses in people who have been to countries or U.S. states where outbreaks of swine flu have occurred, and to test those who meet the criteria.

Mauskapf also discussed the distribution of the antiviral medications at a press briefing this afternoon. Virginia has 770,000 courses of the medications, and expects 280,000 more from a CDC stockpile. He said the medications, which reduce the severity of the illness, also are available commercially. The state’s doses would be distributed to pharmacies, hospitals and doctors, according to need established by a national priority list.

Mauskapf also said the Virginia Department of Education has developed guidelines for schools to address swine flu issues, such as when to consider closing a school in the event of a confirmed case, and how to handle absences of students.

Q&A: How do we fight this flu?

Is a vaccine available for the swine flu? Because this is a new strain of flu, there is no vaccine available for people. Health officials say it could take three to six months to develop one.

How does a vaccine work? Flu vaccines generally contain a dead or weak form of a virus. The vaccine prepares the body to fend off a true infection. To work, it must match the virus relatively closely. The seasonal flu vaccine doesn't appear to be effective against swine flu.

Are there plans to make a vaccine for this flu? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken a sample of the virus causing human swine flu and produced a "seed stock." As of yet, though, the World Health Organization and the CDC have not commissioned a pharmaceutical company to mass-produce a vaccine. That decision is made based on the level of the outbreak.

Are there medications for swine flu? Yes -anti-viral drugs. These are prescription medicines that come in the form of pills, liquids or an inhaler. Anti-viral drugs can be used to treat swine flu or to prevent infection. The CDC recommends oseltamivir, which goes by the brand name Tamiflu, or zanamivir, which goes by the brand name Relenza.

What do the drugs do? Anti-viral drugs can make your illness milder and speed recovery. They also can prevent serious complications, including pneumonia, infection or dehydration.

They work best if started soon after you get sick and might not work if taken more than two days after symptoms surface.

Anti-viral drugs also can be used to prevent the flu. As a prevention, anti-virals are about 70 to 90 percent effective.

Federal officials recommend that some high-risk people, such as the elderly or those with chronic conditions, use the drugs as a preventive measure.

How can I get this medication? The medications are commercially produced and available at pharmacies when prescribed.

What if there's a shortage? Pharmacies stock anti-viral medications, but the government also keeps a stockpile of the drugs in case of shortages caused by outbreaks. The Virginia Department of Health has 770,000 courses of the drugs and expects a shipment of 280,000 more from the CDC.

That's enough to cover about 14 percent of Virginia's estimated population of 7.7 million people. The CDC has released only a portion of the state's allotment, so there's still more available.

The state's doses would be distributed according to national priority guidelines.