Possible Swine Flu Case In Muskogee

NewsOn6.com

MUSKOGEE, OK -- The Veterans Administration hospital in Muskogee has told the News On 6 on Tuesday, an employee at their facility appears to have swine flu symptoms.

VA spokesperson Neda McClellan says the employee confirmed he had recently returned from Cozumel, Mexico.

McClellan says the hospital took culture samples and sent them on the Oklahoma Department of Health for evaluation. They expect to know whether or not the employee tests positive for swine flu by Wednesday afternoon.

If positive, this would be the first case of swine flu in Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Department of Health says samples taken from five patients with flu-like symptoms in the state have all come back negative for swine flu.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has set up a phone bank for persons with questions about swine flu.

The toll free number is 1-866-278-7134.

The OSDH says the phone will be answered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Click here for NewsOn6.com's special coverage of the swine flu outbreak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.