The state Department of Health announced today that it has set up a swine flu information line.

The announcement was made this afternoon by health department director Dr. Chiyome Fukino at a news conference in Gov. Linda Lingle's office.

Fukino said the information line — (866) 767-5044, ext. 3 — will be operational Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. She said trained professionals will staff the line and provided up-to-date facts on the swine flu outbreak.

Recorded messages also will be accessible 24 hours a day.

Also at today's news conference, state Department of Transportation director Brennon Morioka saidstate airports are prepared to deal with a swine flu outbreak.

Morioka said the state "has an operational program in place" because of previous threats from SARS and avian flu.

"We are prepared," Morioka said. "The entry points to the state are safe."

Earlier in the day, state Sen. Mike Gabbard criticized the state for not being too passive in its response to the swine flu outbreak.

Gabbard said the state already should be taking steps to screen arriving passengers.

Additional information on swine flu is available at www.hawaii.gov.health or www.cdc.gov/swineflu