Minnesota Health Department prepares for swine flu

Nurse on the job
Theresa Schuringa, RN, administers a flu vaccine to a patient. The demand for nurses is high, and some two-year schools are offering four-year nursing programs.
Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Health Commissioner Sanne Magnan are in Cold Spring, Minnesota this morning to talk with school district and local officials about next steps after receiving confirmation that a person at Rocori Middle School has the H1N1 Swine Flu virus.

The school and another school, St. Boniface, are still closed today. The state is releasing some of its stockpile of anti-viral drugs to hospitals.

It's a response to Minnesota's first case of swine flu, but the message from the governor is: "don't panic."

Pawlenty says the state is well prepared to deal with the disease.

Kris Ehresmann, a senior epidemiologist with Minnesota Department of Health, discusses her department's preparations with Minnesota Public Radio's Cathy Wurzer.

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