Story Created:
Apr 27, 2009 at 5:02 PM CST
Story Updated:
Apr 27, 2009 at 5:03 PM CST
Many of you called or wrote Action News with questions about the swine flu epidemic.
In our newsroom, we wondered what our state governments are doing about the outbreak and how they're trying to tackle it. Here's what we found out:
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Barb Buhler with South Dakota’s Department Of Health tells Action News that South Dakota currently has 80,000 doses of anti-viral stockpiled.
In addition, SD has asked the US CDC for the state’s allotment of anti-viral medicines, which will total 28,500 doses. Buhler also says hospitals and pharmacies statewide had purchased additional anti-viral doses through a federal grant program but she does not have those numbers. She also did not reveal where the state stockpiles it’s medicines.
MINNESOTA:
Lynn Field with Minnesota’s Department Of Health says the state is very concerned.
Field says all 40 confirmed cases in the U.S. are mild. Minnesota has NO confirmed cases or suspected cases, but they're stepping up their hospital monitoring just to make sure no suspected cases slip through the cracks. In doing so, they’re asking doctors to ask patients if they have traveled recently to Mexico or Texas and other southwestern states.
The MN Dept. Of Health has been having phone conferences with the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. State officials say “there is an outbreak” and there is no way to determine how long the outbreak will last. For years, officials say they have been preparing for public health threats. MN says there is “no health risk whatsoever” from eating pork products.
IOWA:
Polly Carver-Kimm with the Iowa Department Of Public Health says the state’s medical director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, is urging doctors and hospitals statewide to be on the look-out for patients with a fever of at least 100 degrees with a cough/sore throat with no apparent cause.
At the same time, Iowa wants doctors who have patients who fit this criteria if they have recently traveled to New Mexico, Arizona, California or Mexico and if they have had recent occupational contact with hogs. If patients have symptoms and recent travel, tests need to be conducted and doctors/hospitals need to immediately inform the state.
How's the swine flu epidemic affecting you? Tell KSFY Action News. Call (605) 336-9999 or send us an e-mail.
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