Oregon officials say swine flu counts falling
Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:32 PM PST
PORTLAND (AP) — The swine flu epidemic in Oregon appears to have peaked in October, health officials say.
But the flu rate remains higher than in a typical season, they say, and could rebound during the holidays.
‘‘Flu can fool you, so we’re not putting money on it yet, but I’m happier now than I was three weeks ago,’’ said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director of the state Public Health Division’s immunization program.
‘‘What happens when we reach the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and mix in family visits, putting people close together — I don’t know,’’ he said.
The division reports its measures of the epidemic have fallen since about Oct. 21.
That includes the number of cases, hospitalizations and visits to doctors and clinics.
In a mid-October week, about 250 Oregonians were hospitalized for complications from the flu.
Last week the number was 46.
Cieslak said it’s difficult to say why the numbers have fallen. The state has received enough vaccine to immunize about 27 percent of people considered at highest risk, and a lot of children have already come down with the flu.
The new strain of flu, also known as H1N1, surfaced in April and spread quickly around the world.
Its symptoms are the same as regular seasonal flu, but it poses a potentially bigger threat, because few people have been exposed to it previously.
Seasonal flu has not shown up yet in Oregon.
Typically, it arrives in December and lasts through April.
Health officials say swine flu remains widespread and their recommendations have not changed: Get a shot if you can, wash your hands frequently, cover your cough and stay home if you’re sick.
