Thank you for visiting flu.oregon.gov. We have designed this Web site to help you, your family and your community prepare for the flu this season. A new strain of flu known as pandemic H1N1 has the potential to make millions sick this season. I hope you will take the time to read through this information, share it with others and take action. You can make a difference, and help keep Oregonians safe and healthy.  (View video)

To protect your health, your family and community, we suggest a few simple things: 

• Wash your hands; 
• cover your cough with something other than your hand;
• stay home if you are sick;
• stay healthy by quitting smoking if you are a smoker, eating a healthy diet  and staying physically active;
• and get vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available.

The flu is unpredictable, but one thing we know for certain is that information is going to change. Please check this Web site frequently to get the latest information on flu in Oregon. Or call the Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline at 1-800-978-3040.

Newsletter: H1N1 flu in Oregon - Update

—Mel Kohn MD, MPH, director of Oregon Public Health Division

To help make sure that everyone in our state has the best and most current information about H1N1 flu in Oregon, the Oregon Public Health Division is launching this newsletter that will come out on a regular basis. See below for subscription information. 

The influenza situation in Oregon
The pandemic H1N1 strain continues to spread in Oregon. Between September 1, 2009, and October 23, 2009, there have been 449 hospitalizations and 14 deaths in Oregon from influenza. Hospitalizations were markedly increased in the past two weeks: since October 11th, 52 children and 166 adults with influenza were hospitalized. We have also started to experience outbreaks of flu in schools across the state, in some cases with 30 percent or more of staff or students out ill.
At this point almost all of the influenza circulating in Oregon is pandemic H1N1. Other flu strains, such as those included in the seasonal flu vaccine, have not been circulating much in Oregon to date, but we do expect to see them later in the season.

H1N1 vaccine supply
The biggest news this week is about the supply of pandemic H1N1 vaccine. Based on estimates of vaccine production provided by the pharmaceutical companies making the vaccine, we have been planning for vaccine administration throughout the state. Last week we were informed that manufacturers predict that vaccine will arrive more slowly than previously thought; by November 30 states are estimated to get roughly 30 percent less than had been anticipated a few weeks ago, and these estimates are likely to change as the manufacturing process progresses.

The reason for this delay is related to the biology of the virus; that is, the virus has not grown as well as expected in the production process. This is a common problem in producing flu vaccine, and in previous years has slowed production of seasonal flu vaccine.

But of course the situation we are in this year is different from previous years because of the pandemic H1N1 strain. There are about two million people in Oregon in the priority groups for vaccination. To date we have received only about 5 percent of the vaccine needed to vaccinate these priority groups. So it's easy to understand that demand for the vaccine has far outstripped the current supply. We do expect the vaccine supply situation to improve as we get more vaccine delivered to Oregon, but it will take at least several weeks for that to happen.

I appreciate that this is frustrating and disappointing. The Oregon Public Health Division is in constant contact with the Centers for Disease Control about the vaccine supply and will release new information about vaccine availability as quickly as it becomes available. We continue to have manufacturers ship vaccine directly to those who will be administering it in order to minimize any delays.

While many people may get the flu before the pandemic H1N1 vaccine arrives, this new strain is likely to be with us for many months, so that even for those who get vaccinated later in the season, the vaccine should still provide important protection.

So I want to ask that you help us get the message out that people should be patient and keep checking our Web site, www.flu.oregon.gov or their tribal or county health department about vaccination clinics in their communities. Information is also available through the statewide influenza hotline at 1-800-978-3040.

What to do until the vaccine arrives
Vaccination is an important protection against H1N1 influenza but it isn't the only protection. Now it is more important than ever that we practice the basic common sense measures such as:

• Wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently
• Stay home if you're ill
• Cover your cough or sneeze with something other than your hand

These measures not only can help protect you from getting infected, but also can help prevent you from passing on the influenza virus to others.

Keeping things running during the flu
Given the delay in vaccine arrival, it is more important than ever that organizations have a business continuity plan and prepare for a high absentee rate this year.

For more information about how to prepare
One thing we know for certain is that information is going to change during the course of the flu outbreak. Again, www.flu.oregon.gov and our statewide hotline at 1-800-978-3040 are the best places to get the latest information on flu in Oregon.

I hope that you have found this newsletter and website interesting and useful. Please help pass on this important message to your friends and family.  To suscribe, visit the DHS Subscriptions page and select "H1N1 Influenza: Public Health Director's Newsletter."