Resources for hospitals:

• Minnesota Department of Health (MDH): www.mdhflu.com
• Webinar presentation for hospital communicators, Oct. 12, 2009: [PPT]. For more information, contact Webinar presenters Dr. Ruth Lynfield, M.D., MDH; Buddy Ferguson, (651) 201-4997; Allison Sandve, HealthEast Care System, (651) 326-1399; or Marla Mayer, Queen of Peace Hospital, (952) 758-8188.
  
• ECHO Minnesota, in partnership with MDH, has video, audio and print resources on H1N1 in multiple languages. Resources include info on basic prevention, vaccine info and tips on keeping yourself and your family safe this flu season. Most resources are available in Amharic, Arabic, English, Hmong, Karen, Khmer (Cambodian), Laotian, Oromo, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese: http://www.echominnesota.org/H1N1/
• MDH: Hand hygiene print materials
• Food & Drug Administration: information on antivirals
• CMS: information on billing for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations: [PDF]
• CMS: Q & A for Medicare fee-for-service providers: [PDF]
  
  

Resources for the public:

• Minnesota Department of Health seasonal and H1N1 flu information
  
• Minnesota Department of Health media updates
• The Center for Disease Control:
  • General Information on H1N1
  • H1N1 Flu and You
  • Podcasts on H1N1
• U.S. government (Health & Human Services): www.flu.gov
  

What you can do to stay healthy

The best thing Minnesotans can do is practice the usual steps for preventing the spread of germs:

• Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
• Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly - with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub solution. (See MDH's hand hygiene print materials.)
• Clean your hands after shaking hands or having other close contact with other people - before eating or preparing food, or touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Limit your contact with others who may be ill.
• Stay home from work or school - and generally avoid going out in public
• If you are sick, remain home for seven days, or until 24 hours after your symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.
• Make sure to take enough fluids while you're sick.
• If you are an employer, encourage your employees to stay home if they are sick.
• If you do develop possible flu symptoms and you want to consult your health care provider, call before going in for an office visit. You may not need to go in, and if you do need to be seen, a time should be set up when you will not risk exposing others to influenza in the waiting room.
• People at risk for severe flu or flu complications should contact their health care provider if they have flu symptoms or have been exposed to people with flu symptoms. Those individuals include people with an underlying medical condition, pregnant women, young children (especially under age two) and people 65 or older.

Receive MDH updates
Sign up here to receive updates on the swine flu and other topics from the Minnesota Department of Health: https://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=MNMDH_85

Media Backgrounder (from Aug. 26, 2009 meeting with MDH officials)

• Dr. Sanne Magnan, Commissioner of Health, Opening Remarks; Audio: [mp3]
• Dr. Ruth Lynfield, State Epidemiologist; Audio: [mp3]; Slides: [PDF]
• Kristen Ehresmann, Director Infections Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division; Audio: [mp3]; Slides: [PDF]
• John Linc Stine, Assistant Commissioner, MDH; Audio: [mp3] Slides: [PDF]
• Kevin Leuer, Division Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety; Audio: [mp3]; Slides: [PDF]
• Q&A: [mp3]