(Host) Even though swine flu has officially been proclaimed a pandemic, Vermont health officials say their approach to the disease won’t change.
The state recommends that people get sick stay home from school or work to recover. But they don’t need to go to a doctor unless they have an underlying condition that could be complicated by the flu.
Health Commissioner Wendy Davis says declaring swine flu a pandemic proves that it’s spread throughout the population.
(Davis) "If anything, in a sense, that supports our notion of backing away a little bit from doing widespread testing. Now, I do want to be clear, we still strongly encourage people who are at risk for more severe complications from influenza to talk to their health care provider, to consider whether or not testing or treatment is indicated."
(Host) The Health Department will continue to monitor the spread of the strain of the flu.
Davis says her staff will also prepare for the normal flu season in the fall and winter, when she says the pandemic could be worse.
(Davis) "So activities around planning for a large-scale immunization campaign are really ramping up and ramping up both in the sense of production of vaccines with the correct strains to address what might be coming and also again all the reminders about what individuals and communities need to do to be prepared."