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By Elizabeth Simpson / The Virginian-Pilot

Responding to a high public interest in swine flu, the state’s health department will open a call center today for Virginians to telephone with questions about the new virus.

The number – 1-877-ASK-VDH3 – will be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Friday. Some questions will be answered immediately by health department staff, and others will be recorded to be answered in return calls.

On Friday, health officials will evaluate whether there’s a need to continue the call center next week.

During a Wednesday press briefing, state health officials said Virginia still does not have any confirmed cases of swine flu. Specimens continue to be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing, but state labs expect to receive kits later this week to do the same testing here.

Officials also announced that the state today received its first round of antiviral medications that the CDC began releasing in response to the outbreaks of swine flu across the globe.

The state received about half of the 280,000 courses of medication it expects to get. That will add to a stockpile of 770,000 courses the state already had on hand.

The state also received other flu-related items, such as face masks, gowns and gloves for infection control should confirmed cases be identified.

Source: www.hamptonroads.com