HAYDEN, Id. -- The death toll from the H1N1 virus is expected to be much higher than originally thought. Federal health officials estimate 4,000 Americans likely died from the swine flu. That's four times what they previously thought. This new estimate includes deaths caused by complications related to the virus. The number also accounts for the states not reporting such deaths to the Centers for Disease Control.
Health officials in North Idaho speculate one reason the death toll had to be adjusted is because hospitals are not doing enough testing. In some cases, those who die with flu-like symptoms are never tested for H1N1.
There are two tests. The thorough H1N1 test which costs about $350, and the cheaper rapid test. That faster examination is what most people get. But it only tells you if you have the flu. It doesn't tell you what kind.
Panhandle Health District reports 30 confirmed cases of swine flu and one death. It's likely those are not exact numbers. The issue is H1N1 testing. Epidemiologists with Panhandle Health would like to see those that die with flu-like symptoms get tested for swine flu. But that doesn't always happen.
"There are all sorts of pros to doing it. We need the stats, we need the data. But then there's the cost," said Panhandle Health District official Cynthia Taggart.
Taggart also says in most cases, people get a nasal swab which is a rapid test which can indicate if you have influenza-A. That can be seasonal flu or swine flu.
As for Providence/Holy Family, KREM 2 News tried to contact them to find out if all flu-related deaths are tested for H1N1, but did not hear back from them.
"When you have a death, you can't say for sure that it's H1N1 than it's hard to study what did H1N1 do to cause this," said Taggart.
Taggart also says this issue isn't unique to the Inland Northwest, or even H1N1. Accurately tracking numbers associated with seasonal flu is hard as well.
