Bay State health officials gather for H1N1 conference

WORCESTER, Mass. -- State health officials hosted a conference Wednesday to discuss the latest on the H1N1 pandemic.

More than 800 health officials from across the state gathered at the DCU Center in Worcester.

"Boston of course is the largest local health jurisdiction in this state and so we're very interested to make sure we're in tune with what's being done statewide," Dr. Anita Barry said, the Boston Public Health Director.

Officials said they do not know how bad the swine flu will hit the state in the coming months, but they want to take precautions in advance.

They urge residents to wash their hands and to use hand sanitizer.

Swine flu vaccines are expected to be made available in November and health officials want Massachusetts residents to get it.

"This new H1N1 vaccine is made exactly the same way as seasonal flu, it's just a different strain of the flu virus," Dr. Barry said.

The conference comes just days after Thayer High School graduate, Matthew Healey, 18, died of the H1N1 virus.

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