Oregon Public Broadcasting

Girls from around the world are coming to Portland to compete in the Little League Softball world series. As April Baer reports, health officials are trying to make sure they don't bring unwanted viral guests with them.

Preparations are underway for the ten teams playing at Portland's Alpenrose Fields.

With mowers buzzing through the infield grass, and over a hundred girls arriving from as far away as Anchorage, Milan, and Guam, Providence St. Vincent sent a volunteer physician to screen the players for any evidence of illness.

Specifically, Dr. Ken Dirk is looking for swine flu.

Ken Dirk  "If it's a routine illness, as long as they don't have a high fever, they aren't displaying symptoms consistent with the flu, we leave it up to the league to allow them to play."

Most of the time, Dirk says, the symptoms turn out to be something like asthma. As long as the girls have passed the two-week contact window for contagion, they're usually cleared to play.

As the Series begins, East Division winners Pennsylvania will take on Latin American champs Curacao on Thursday afternoon.

District 4 champs Beaverton play Thursday night at 8.