CONTACT: Seth Boffeli, (608) 209-8477
Alternative contact: Stephanie Marquis, (608) 266-1683

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE MONDAY ON SWINE FLU

MADISON - At approximately 11:30 a.m. today [Sunday, April 26] the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared a public health emergency in response to recent Swine Influenza A (H1N1) outbreaks in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

State of Wisconsin officials, led by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), have been monitoring the situation since Friday and continue to observe this situation very closely. Guidance for health care and public health agencies has been distributed and surveillance for possible cases has been intensified.

At this time there are no reported cases in Wisconsin but officials will hold a press conference, Monday, 10 a.m. in the State Emergency Operation Centers, 2400 Wright St., and give an update of the situation and to advise the public on flu prevention.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has detailed information about the current status of the situation and prevention measures at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/index.htm - a link can also be found at the Wisconsin DHS, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security websites.

To learn more about influenza, visit: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/influenza/index.htm.

-END-

Last Revised:  April 27, 2009