Abbott Announces Increase in Quarterly Dividend

Company Declares 349th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend

ABBOTT PARK, Illinois, February 18, 2011 - The board of directors of Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today increased the
company's quarterly common dividend 9 percent to 48 cents per share.

This marks the 39th consecutive year that Abbott has increased its
dividend payout and the 349th consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid by
Abbott since 1924. The cash dividend is payable May 16, 2011, to shareholders
of record at the close of business on April 15, 2011.

Abbott was recently named by Money as a smart dividend stock
(money.cnn.com/2011/01/12/pf/investing/where_to_invest_now.moneymag/index.htm).
Additionally, Abbott is a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index
(www.standardandpoors.com/indices/sp-500-dividend-aristocrats/en/us/?indexId=spusa-500dusdff–p-us—-),
which tracks companies that have annually increased their dividend for 25
consecutive years.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the
discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and
medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The
company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than
130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the
company's Web site at www.abbott.com.

Media, Adelle Infante, +1-847-938-8745, or Financial, Larry Peepo, +1-847-935-6722, both of Abbott