Manatee Memorial Hospital is fully prepared to address any potential outbreak of H1N1 Influenza (aka swine flu) in our community. We have the appropriate medications, isolation rooms and medical personnel to care for and treat any patient who may be infected. Key personnel from the hospital are involved in daily briefings with state and local health officials to keep abreast of new information and instructions and we are increasing our surveillance for patients who present with symptoms consistent with H1N1 flu.

The Centers for Disease Control has advised that any individual who feels they may have symptoms consistent with H1N1 flu should contact their primary care physician who can administer the appropriate test to determine if the individual is infected with H1N1 flu. Manatee Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department has set up special areas for handling and testing any potential patient with symptoms consistent with H1N1 flu symptoms.

We have also provided links to names of physicians that anyone may contact if they choose. You can also choose to call our physician referral service, Direct Doctors Plus, for physician information: 800-816-4145.

The public can obtain information on the H1N1 flu by visiting the following Web site links or by calling the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at 1-800-CDC-INFO.

H1N1 Influenza Information Center
CDC H1N1 Flu Information (English)
CDC H1N1 Flu Information (Spanish)