Minnesota prepares for possible swine flu outbreak

Mike Osterholm
Mike Osterholm, with the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
MPR Photo/Tom Scheck

Minnesota health officials say they are stepping up monitoring and are asking doctors around the state to send in specimens from patients of any kind of respiratory symptoms that may be related to a unique strain of swine flu.

So far, no cases of the flu that has world health experts concerned have shown up in Minnesota. Cases have been reported in several states, with the flue showing up in younger, normally healthier people.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke to Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease research and policy. He's a noted pandemic flu expert.

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