Doctors coping with swine flu jitters

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LOS ANGELES (AP) – Concerns about a possible pandemic have sent people streaming into emergency rooms and walk-in clinics – not with swine flu, but the swine flu jitters.

While the situation varies greatly around the country, hospitals and clinics in California, New York, Alabama and other states are dealing with a surge in what a New York City health commissioner said are “people who are worried, but not sick.”

Coughs and sneezes that might have been ignored before the outbreak emerged are now a reason to see a doctor. “They’re so afraid this is the killer swine flu that they want someone to look at them and test them,” said Dr. John Bradley.