ORLANDO, Fla., April 28, 2009 (4:30 p.m.) – Florida Hospital and its urgent care center, Centra Care, called a news conference to address an inaccurate news report stating there was a confirmed swine flu case in Central Florida.   

“There are no confirmed cases of swine flu at Florida Hospital or Centra Care at this time,” said Dr. Scott Brady, medical director for Florida Hospital Centra Care.   

Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health department protocol, Florida Hospital Centra Care has sent a total of three suspected cases of influenza to the CDC for testing and is currently awaiting the results.  

“Because of the heightened state of awareness about swine flu, the CDC and local health departments have asked that all health care agencies send any suspected cases to their laboratories for additional testing,” Brady said.     

The swine flu is a strain of influenza A and shares similar symptoms to the standard flu. Hospitals are advised to notify the local county health department if patients are demonstrating flu-like symptoms, test positively for influenza A, and have traveled to or been exposed to someone who has traveled to affected areas. Only the CDC and the Department of Health may confirm actual cases of the swine flu.

Media reports have referenced an e-mail regarding the swine flu from Dr. Loran Hauck, senior vice president and chief medical officer from Adventist Health System. This e-mail was an unofficial correspondence to a friend and not an official statement from Adventist Health System, Florida Hospital or Centra Care.  Dr. Hauck did not intend for this e-mail to be shared and was not present at today’s news conference.  

“I regret that an unofficial e-mail I sent to a friend has been taken out of context,” Hauck said.”  My intent was to comment on current influenza cases in Central Florida, but I regret my strong choice of words.  I apologize for the concern this has caused.”

Florida Hospital will continue to provide updates as warranted.

For media inquiries only, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217.