Best information on swine flu comes from health experts

WILLMAR -- There's a tsunami of information on the Internet about the H1N1 novel flu virus -- a Google search for "swine flu" turned up 9.9 million references -- but not all of it is credible or helpful.

For the best, most up-to-date information, local health officials recommend turning to the experts: the Minnesota Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

"They're being updated frequently. That is where the official information is being posted," said Ann Stehn, director of Kandiyohi County Public Health.

The county's Web site, www.co.kandiyohi.mn.us, has links to all three sites.

The state Health Department can be found at www.health.state.mn.us. The CDC is at www.cdc.gov and the World Health Organization at www.who.int./en.

There's a variety of information at all three sites, including information for health care professionals that's also accessible to the public, said Jo DeBruycker, manager of the Health Learning Center at Affiliated Community Medical Centers.

"You can click on what you want," she said. "There's good fact sheets people can use."

The Minnesota Department of Health also has added a toll-free hotline for the public to call with questions. It's at 1-800-657-3903.