Local Lab Tests Statewide Swine Flu
"This is a totally different influenza than anything we've ever seen before"...says State Health Department Griffen Lab Director Dr. Kristen St. George. For the first time since the swine flu outbreak was detected in NYC news cameras were allowed inside the Slingerlands lab where technicians are working over time scrutinizing flu samples from around the state. Only the most highly suspect specimens are brought to the Albany County lab. Dr. St. George said in the past two days 44 samples were tested...eight were identified as normal seasonal flu and eight were determined to be swine flu. But while this is the same strain of swine flu that has killed more than 150 in Mexico...Dr. St.George says for some reason it is only causing mild illnesses here in New York. And officials are still not sure why.
