Ala. health dept. gets possible swine flu samples

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Department of Public Health
has started receiving samples of what might be swine flu from
doctors around the state who suspect their patients could have the
virus.
    Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Charles Woernle (Wurn’-lee)
says the department’s lab began stocking up on extra supplies
Monday in preparation for an onslaught of specimens.
    He said the labs have received several samples from Baldwin and
Pike counties so far.
    Woernle said any confirmation will take a while because samples
that are validated at the state level must then be sent to the
Centers for Disease Control for final confirmation.
    The receipt of specimens comes just a day after State Health
Officer Don Williamson said Alabama had no swine flu cases but it
would only be a matter of time.