Weekly Oregon H1N1 Influenza Update

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has allocated another 100,604 H1N1 vaccine doses to Oregon expected by Friday, Dec. 4, bringing the cumulative total to 765,508, enough to vaccinate 39 percent of the priority group.

Thermal scanners operate to check passengers' body temperature at the airport at Bulgarian capital Sofia. Photo by BGNES Courtesy: novinite.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The number of H1N1 influenza hospitalizations and deaths appears to be waning, but people are still getting sick and being hospitalized throughout the state. In Oregon during the past week, 59 people have been hospitalized and three have died.

Since Sept. 1, 2009, 1,242 people have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness; 52 people have died.

“As the holiday season gets into full sway, it’s still important to remember the basic flu prevention measures when shopping or attending parties,” says Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., director of Oregon Public Health Division.

Basic prevention methods include washing your hands, covering your cough with something other than your hand, staying home when you’re sick and getting both an H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine when they become available.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has allocated another 100,604 H1N1 vaccine doses to Oregon expected by Friday, Dec. 4, bringing the cumulative total to 765,508, enough to vaccinate 39 percent of the priority group.

“Also, as a reminder, December is the month that seasonal flu usually arrives. We want people to get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible, and it’s certainly not too late to get an H1N1 vaccine,” says Kohn.

Oregon Public Health flu hotline at 1-800-978-3040 has a team of specially trained nurses to answer medical questions related to flu, including how to care for someone who has the flu and when to see a doctor.

See the attached graphics for a visual of H1N1 flu hospitalizations/deaths and vaccine delivery in Oregon. For more information, call the Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline at 1-800-978-3040 or visit flu.oregon.gov