State hospitals see more worried patients

State officials say we should expect to see more Minnesotans diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus. Hospitals and clinics around the country are seeing a surge in people who are worried about the flu, but not sick with it.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Dr. John Hick, the medical director for bioterrorism and disaster preparedness at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), who said he's been seeing the same trend at HCMC.

Hick said Minneapolis Children's Hospital and hospitals in the St. Cloud area have also been seeing more people concerned that they have the flu, but no other cases have been confirmed as H1N1.

"These children generally don't fit the criteria for suspect cases," he said. "We'll probably have the first confirmed case in the metro area in the next days to weeks."

Hick said the mildness of the H1N1 flu means the media has focused more on the people contracting the new strain, not the virus itself. He said the public should remember that "...the outcomes have been universally good in the United States."

HCMC has set up a temporary waiting area for potential flu patients, as well as other measures to expedite any necessary treatment in the event of an outbreak.

"A tremendous amount of behind the scenes activity," Hick said.

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