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Originally Posted by Bagor
What are they basing their figures on? i.e. What % of people that submit with flu-like symptons are actually being tested for H1N1?
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There is a province wide program called the Tarrant Viral Watch that has designated physicans throughout the province that are swabbing all patients with influenza-like illness. This allows them to track actual increases in H1N1 and other virus subtype prevalance rates as they also swab patients regularly outside the flu season. Therefore, they actually get to see if there is an increase in any particular flu strain from the norm. Other physicians swabs are not taken into account as they vary widely with patient/media concern regarding the virus. Based on viral watch data, the H1N1 flu rates are increasing quickly. Hope that helps.