How Swine Flu Is Reported To The State

Tools

By Leslie Rupiper

Story Created: Apr 27, 2009 at 5:29 PM CST

Story Updated: Apr 27, 2009 at 5:29 PM CST

After the South Dakota Department of Health announced that two suspected cases of the swine flu were, in fact, not the swine flu; we still had questions.

But in our newsroom, we wondered how swine flu is reported to the state? Action News has learned that if someone goes to their doctor, thinking they have swine flu, their local doctor will take a swab and send it to their local lab. If it comes back positive, it's then sent to the state lab. 

If the state lab confirms it, they sent the sample to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.  At each level, the specimen is tested, so there continues to be confirmation that the illness, is indeed, the swine flu.

These numbers are kept at both the state and national level. However, if someone doesn’t go to the doctor, the illness is never counted among the total number of cases in the state/country.

What do you think about the swine flu?
Contact KSFY Action News by phone at (605) 336-9999 or send us an e-mail.

User Agreement

View comments

The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of KSFY.com. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

KSFY.com and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

I have read and agree to the terms

Hide comments

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

Stock Quotes

Flash Poll

Do you agree with the new recommendation that women should wait until they are 21 to get their first pap smear test?

  • Yes
  • No

AP Video