Oregon Swine Flu Update

The best protections against the H1N1 influenza virus are to wash your hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes with tissue or a sleeve (never your hand), and stay home if you are ill.

Courtesy: geocities.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - As of Sunday, Oregon public health officials had received confirmation of three cases of H1N1 influenza virus in Multnomah and Polk counties. The state public health lab has also identified 19 additional probable cases. The breakdown of the identified probable and confirmed cases is as follows: Probable cases
5 Lane
5 Multnomah
5 Polk
1 Umatilla
1 Wallowa
2 Washington Confirmed cases
2 Multnomah
1 Polk Total Cases
5 Lane
7 Multnomah
6 Polk
1 Umatilla
1 Wallowa
2 Washington
22 Total

Of the 22 probable and cofirmed cases, two people have been hospitalized. One was a child who had other health care concerns, who has since been released. One is a teenaged female who is in the intensive care unit but is recovering. In the rest of the cases, the people are recovering or have recovered at home.

"We are at the beginning of this outbreak in Oregon," Mel Kohn, M.D., state public health officer in the Oregon Department of Human Services said today. ‘It's encouraging that most people who have gotten ill are recovering well, but we do expect more cases here in Oregon and it is still too early to say how severe they will be. In light of that, we are proceeding carefully."

Of the 22 probable and confirmed cases statewide, there are 7 children, 4 teens and 11 adults. There are 10 males and 12 females. Additional specimens continue to be tested at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory in Hillsboro.

"We are in constant contact with the Centers for Disease Control as they learn more about the national and global severity so that we respond appropriately," said Dr. Kohn. "We also continue to work with local health departments, school districts and other organizations to address their concerns on a case-by-case basis."

Dr. Kohn continues to stress that the best protections against the H1N1 influenza virus are to wash your hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes with tissue or a sleeve (never your hand), and stay home if you are ill.

Daily updates will be posted at flu.oregon.gov

The statewide flu hotline, which is currently staffed Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is 1-800-978-3040.