Oregon Public Broadcasting

As Mexico City deals with an outbreak of swine flu -- and the U.S. declares a public health emergency as a precautionary measure -- experts in Oregon are stepping up their monitoring efforts.  Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Health officials in Oregon say there have been no instances of Swine Flu here and no spike in respiratory illnesses.

But state epmiologist, Doctor Mel Kohn, says there’s a network of about 25 clinicians who’ve been asked to take swabs from anyone exhibiting flu-like  symptoms.

Mel Kohn: “So we are asking those folks to culture anyone who comes in with an illness like that. Particularly if they’ve been in contact with places where we have known swine flu.”

In addition, the state is asking hospitals to watch for flu-like illnesses. It’s asking out-patient providers what they’re seeing and it’s checking with call nurses to see what phone inquiries they’re getting.

Oregon and Washington have asked for drugs and protective masks from federal emergency stockpiles.