EVIDENCE is growing that Europe should test more people for swine flu. Most European countries recommend testing only those who are already sick and have met someone known to be infected or visited a severely affected country. But this cannot detect the virus if it is spreading between people who don’t meet these criteria.
Now it looks as if Europe is indeed missing cases. Last week doctors in Greece tested two men who had returned from the UK with flu symptoms, even though they did not meet the testing criteria. The men tested positive. The doctors say Europe’s criteria should change. Testing in North America and Australia already targets a broader range of people.
The UK now recommends tests for people with flu symptoms but not the requisite contact or travel histories, if swine flu cases have been reported in their region.
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