By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Health chief concerned about swine flu
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma's new Commissioner of Health says the state is not prepared for a full-blown swine flu outbreak.
Dr. Terry Cline, who took over as Oklahoma's top health official on June 30, says it's not time to sound the alarm about swine flu.
But Cline says the continued spread of the swine flu virus during summer months when the state generally does not experience influenza cases is troubling.
Cline says it could lead to a very difficult flu season. And, he says, the state needs to be as prepared as possible.
Cline says health professionals are already gearing up for a possible outbreak. He says they should plan to rapidly administer thousands of doses of the swine flu vaccine in case of a pandemic this fall or winter.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.