Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon National Guard is on standby to distribute anti-viral medications to combat swine flu if the need should arise.

The state is receiving more than 100-thousand doses of anti-flu drugs such as Tamiflu, along with several hundred thousand surgical masks.

The supplies are coming from a federal stockpile.  So far health officials have not called for the drugs to be distributed. 

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski says the state is monitoring the situation carefully.  And he says prevention can start at home.

Ted Kulongoski: “I think that there are some precautionary steps that they’re asking us all to take, and I’ll be very frank with you, I told my staff ‘Wash your hands.’  It is very, very important because it does have the ability to move from person to person.”

No confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in Oregon, Washington or Idaho.  The number of confirmed cases nationally is 64.

Online:

Information about swine flu from the Oregon Department of Human Services