Oregon Public Broadcasting

Health officials have been warning for days that Oregon was likely to see cases of Swine Flu. The first probable case was announced Thursday. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Doctor Gary Oxman, who investigates infectious diseases for Multnomah County, says a local woman appears to have contracted the disease.

He says she attended a large family gathering on Sunday. Two of the people there had recently traveled to Mexico where they’d been in contact with another person who had flu-like symptoms.

Gary Oxman: “In terms of the potential for spread, we have evaluated this case in terms of the person’s contact, family contacts, potential workplace contacts, social contacts and at this point we’re not seeing significant potential for spread.”

He says the woman did go to work on Monday, but then stayed home Tuesday and Wednesday.  She did not work at a school or other educational setting.

The case is still only being classified as a "probable infection" -- mainly because it needs to be confirmed by a final test. But officials say, the tests administered so far show a 95 percent likelihood that she has Swine Flu.

State Director of Public Health, Dr. Mel Kohn, explained some of the uncertainties surrounding this flu strain.

Mel Kohn: “The concern is that over time, is the strength of this virus going to change in some way. We have a lot of people -- all of us essentially -- who have never been exposed to this before and so are potentially susceptible. The other flu viruses that have been around we have either been exposed to, or exposed to related strains, and would have some immunity that would held us fight this off.”

But state officials also pointed out that we're at the tail-end of the flu season, and typically that means cases of seasonal flu taper off.

That gives health authorities several months to develop a vaccine for this strain.

The hope is a viable flu shot that protects against swine flu may be available by the time flu season starts again in the winter.

In the meantime, the director of Oregon’s Health Department, Bruce Goldburg, had this advice.

Bruce Goldburg: “It’s important that everybody in Oregon do three things. One is wash your hands, two cover your mouth or nose when you sneeze or cough.  And third, it’s important that individuals remain home if they’re ill and try to avoid contact with other people until they’re feeling better.”

The state is doing on-going testing for swine flu and expects there may be other cases.

Online:

www.flu.oregon.gov