Is it H1N1, or another strain of the flu?

[raccoon]

Last night a woman told me her sister had flu. They had just flown to CA and back, so who knows where she picked up the virus.

Someone asked if she had H1N1, and said she ought to find out from her doctor. Can a regular family doctor determine the strain of the flu virus?

And, here’s the $64,000 question: The COST of determining which strain? I just have catastrophic insurance, so if I get flu and have to go to the doctor, I’m not putting up additional bucks to find out which strain it is. And I’m sure I’m not alone in that.

:sigh: Another argument for a national health plan.

[Ilsa]

1. Maybe they should find out the strain just for containment reasons. If

the lady's sister is not too old or too young or have other health conditions which could compromise her recovery, then it might even be irrelevant.

[kestrel91316]

2. People with mild flu need not be tested for type. Our scarce public health

dollars need to be spent testing the seriously ill.

You DO realize that sort of thing is public health, and won't be covered by any insurance, right?

People with mild flu don't need to see a doctor.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Then why were they quarantining people and how did they know to do it

if flu victims do not tell anyone?
Big headlines during the "scare the population" season this spring, listing how many people were in quarantine in each country.
So those of us who had mild flu or something that might have been flu, no doctor, no report.

Confusing.

[kestrel91316]

4. No one has been "quarantined" for this flu. The recommendation

was for people to practice social distancing and isolation particularly when ill with flu-like symptoms so as to minimize spread. No quarantines have been instituted. There is no point. It's too widespread.

[Hannah Bell]

5. we're supposed to quarantine ourselves, is what you're saying.