Augusta, GA -- As the swine flu creeps into the Two-State, more people have unanswered questions...we took those to Doctors Hospital's Dr. Mark Newton.
Michael Neal, Augusta, GA: “I just want to know when you would decide to go to the doctor, when you had any flu-like symptoms.”
Dr. Mark Newton, ER doctor, Doctor’s Hospital: “The high fever and headache, myalgia, muscle aches, and the respiratory component along with the proximity to someone who's had a connection with Mexico. Those are the people who would pretty much want to consider getting what we call proferlactic treatment, getting treatment.”
Mabel Perry, Augusta, GA: “I'm worried about how it got started and how it will affect those of us in Richmond County?”
Dr. Newton: “A little similar to the way the previous episodes start. All the flu seems to come from human to animal contact then it reaches a strain that can be transmitted human to human. And of course, that when it takes off, when we cough or sneeze or get things on our hands, then we all touch different things.”
Raul Mendiola, Augusta, GA: “Is it also affecting healthy people or is just affecting people who are malnourished?”
Dr. Newton: “This one does have a component that seems to have attacked some fairly middle range individuals in Mexico, and that's one that makes it a little bit concerning and we want to keep a close eye on it.”
Simon White, Augusta, GA: “Is this going to become a pandemic?”
Dr. Newton: “This is something we keep a close eye on. We've done this with meningitis before, when there have been outbreaks of another viral infection, like meningitis. We want to be cautious, you don't want to close everything because life does go on and everything else is going on. But we want to be cautious and keep a real close eye on it, and I think we're doing that.”
Dr. Newton says a child was tested for swine flu in Columbia County after testing positive for influenza A. No word on those results. And of course, washing your hands, and doing anything to stay healthy right now, vitamins, eating right, will help lower your chances of contracting any sort of flu.
For more information on Relenza, a drug that may help with swine flu symptons, click here.
For the latest on the CDC's investigation into the swine flu threat, click here.
For the latest information on swine flu from HealthCentral, click here.
We have also set up a special report page on swine flu. You can view that page by clicking here.
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