Oregon officials report probable case of swine flu
By TIM FOUGHT
Associated Press
Friday, May 1, 2009 10:47 AM PDT
PORTLAND — A young woman in Multnomah County likely has swine flu, although the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oregon health officials said Thursday.
The officials said at least three more Oregon cases are expected soon to be classified as probable cases of swine flu, which is blamed for more than 165 deaths in Mexico and one in the United States. A probable case at Western Oregon University in Monmouth led school officials to close the campus through Monday.
‘‘The swine flu is here,’’ said Dr. Mel Kohn, head of the Oregon Public Health Department.
‘‘I wasn’t expecting it quite this quickly, but here we are,’’ he said at a press conference.
The Multnomah County woman, who was not identified, was not hospitalized and was recovering, Kohn said.
Two members of the woman’s extended family recently traveled to Mexico and had contact with someone who had serious respiratory illness. Kohn said the woman went to work one day after getting sick.
A public health investigation is under way. So far, Kohn said, there was no indication the disease had spread in her workplace, and there is no connection between the woman and any schools.
‘‘At this point we’re really not seeing a significant potential for spread,’’ said Dr. Gary Oxman, health officer for Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties. The results from the Multnomah County woman are not expected from the CDC for several days.
Kohn said federal officials told the state that 95 percent of the people who have preliminary test results like the woman’s turn out to have swine flu.
‘‘It is very likely that this test will be confirmed by the final step of laboratory testing,’’ Kohn said. ‘‘So we are not waiting — we are treating this as a case of swine flu.’’
At Western Oregon University, President John Minahan told Portland television station KATU that the male student with a probable case of swine flu lives in an off-campus apartment, but may have had contact with others in recent days. He said the more than 1,300 students who live in dorms have not been quarantined. They were asked to stay put for several days to lessen the likelihood of exposure.
‘‘The idea is to keep as many people who have come in contact with him away from others so this doesn’t spread,’’ he said.
Minahan said test results on the student are due Monday.
The CDC has been handling the final tests to determine whether samples sent from the states are swine flu. But the agency has started to send out testing kits so that the states can do their own tests.
That is expected to happen shortly in Oregon, which reported Wednesday it has 14 samples waiting. On Thursday, officials said those samples came from around the state.
Repeating the advice health professionals have been giving, Gov. Ted Kulongoski urged Oregonians to ‘‘remain calm and follow the recommended actions for protecting yourselves and your family: Wash your hands frequently and make sure to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
‘‘Also, if you are feeling sick, please do not go to work or school — contact your health care provider. Lastly, try to avoid people who are ill.’’
