NEWS RELEASE
April 27, 2009

Audio Available on Swine Flu

Note: An audio interview with Erik Steele, DO, commenting on swine flu is available on the EMHS web site at www.emh.org and click on media relations. You are welcome to download these sound bytes and use on-air or as needed.

(Brewer, ME) – Just when you thought flu season was nearly over comes word of an international outbreak of swine flu, a particularly nasty form of influenza that has caused a number of deaths in Mexico and sickened some folks in the United States and elsewhere. 

In an interview today (April 27, 2009), EMHS chief medical officer, Erik Steele, DO said it is likely that someone in Maine will be diagnosed with swine flu because we are a society of travelers.

#1 Dr. Steele says we shouldn’t fret about swine flu, but we should be smart….
 Steele Byte 1 Run time: 1:13  
Intro: The big problem is ….
Outro:  … worry about something else

#2 There is no reason at this time to avoid going out, being in public places, etc. (In the unlikely event that becomes necessary, there will be public health bulletins telling us to do so). Dr.Steele says the best way to protect yourself from swine flu is by the same tried and true methods you use to prevent getting any other type of influenza. 
Steele Byte 2 Run time: 58   
Intro: If you want to avoid any risk of …
Outro: …by the disease experts either

Dr. Steele adds that if you are worrying about swine flu, but driving while talking on your cell phone, or not wearing your seatbelt, you are worrying about the wrong things. It is the common stuff that gets most of us in trouble, not some scary virus. 

#3 Can your local hospital emergency department tell if you have swine flu? Well…. Yes, but the test has to be sent away to get the results, and those results will not be immediately available to answer the question. So you cannot just go to the hospital and get an immediate answer.
 Steele Byte 3 Run time: 1:02  
Intro: EMHS hospitals are following the …
Outro: … don’t have swine flu

-END-