PROVIDENCE — The state’s health director is down with the flu, or something like it.

Dr. David R. Gifford stayed home Thursday after developing a fever the previous night. He’d been home sick on Tuesday, although without a fever, said his spokeswoman, Annemarie Beardsworth. He felt better and returned to work Wednesday.

But when he spiked a fever Wednesday night, he decided to stay home again. In a phone interview Thursday afternoon, a hoarse Gifford said that he had called his primary-care doctor, who prescribed an antibiotic because he has symptoms of bronchitis. His doctor did not prescribe Tamiflu, because it would be too late in the course of his illness for Tamiflu to be effective. Also, Gifford, 47, is not a candidate for Tamiflu because he has no underlying illnesses.

Asked whether he thought he had the flu, Gifford said, “I honestly don’t know. I definitely have some features of it. I definitely have some features that are not characteristic of it. And you know what? It doesn’t matter ... I have fever and aches and I’m miserable.”

There is no reason to test for swine flu because identifying the illness wouldn’t change the recommended treatment and, anyway, he’d probably be better by the time the results come in. Swine flu is now widespread in Rhode Island.

Gifford did get a shot against seasonal flu and vaccine for swine flu is going first to the young and pregnant people who are at greater risk.

Gifford said he is resting at home, taking plenty of fluids, and taking Tylenol to knock down his fever. He expects to be out of work on Friday, although in touch by phone and e-mail. In fact, he’ll be participating in a live Web chat about swine flu on projo.com from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., from his home computer. He won’t return to work until he’s fever-free.

“He’s following his own advice,” Beardsworth said.