They are pretty much assuming influenza A is H1N1 now and not bothering to test anymore. If caught in the first 48 hours, it can be treated with Tamiflu or another antiviral which can help cut down the severity of the symptoms and help you get over it faster. But the flu can last 10-14 days. If you miss the 48 hour window for Tamiflu treatment though, you have to ride it out and just treat the symptoms like you would a regular flu.

My granddaughter is 9 and grandson is 5, their school in Oregon has 578 students, 3 weeks ago (On Monday) they had 258 students out sick with the flu and teachers were sick and they ran out of substitute teachers and started to close down schools. Teachers were taking kids temperatures in the classrooms and sending them to the office to have parents called to pick them up if they had a fever.

The doctors in their town told the families they did NOT want to see the kids UNLESS they had a fever above 104, had had a fever for more than 5 days or were dehydrated, otherwise said to keep the kids home.