Another Floridian is likely infected with the swine flu virus, Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros said this morning.

Nine cases have been referred to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta for further testing, including two from Palm Beach County. Two cases have been confirmed in Lee and Broward counties.

One Palm Beach County likely victim remains hospitalized, Viamonte Ros told Gov. Charlie Crist at a morning briefing.

“Wouldn’t surprise me if we get more, frankly but that’s where we are right now,” Crist said before meeting with Viamonte Ros.

State health officials have received more than 700 calls to a toll-free number, 1-800-342-3557, set up yesterday afternoon to handle questions from the public requesting H1N1 flu information, she said.

“Everyone is on alert. All stockpiles have been deployed,” she told Crist.

Crist urged Floridians and visitors to “be concerned but not to be panicked.”

Results on the nine tests from the CDC could come as early as today but may be delayed because the center is overwhelmed by requests, Viamonte Ros said.

Crist gave Viamonte Ros his cell phone number before she left his office.

“If you hear some new information during the course of the day if you could just give me a ring,” Crist said.

“Absolutely,” she replied.

Tags: Charlie Crist

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 am and is filed under Charlie Crist. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.