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Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

T

thebes

Well-known member
Springfield (KMTR) - 13 people are hospitalized for flu symptoms at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield.

So far, only one of the 13 patients has tested positive for swine flu, otherwise known as the H1N1 virus. Test results are pending on the others. The patients range in age from 14 months to 62 years of age. Five of them are in the intensive care unit being treated for pneumonia.

One local health official says it's unusual to see a cluster of flu cases like this during the month of July. Betsy Meredith from Lane County Public Health has some advice for patients with flu-like symptoms. "They should stay home for seven days after the onset of symptoms or 24 hours after the fever has dropped, whichever is longer."

If you do feel symptoms coming on, health officials urge you to call your doctor. Do not go to the hospital.

http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/stor...-for-flu-symptoms/KDmWlpYPeUillgT43SDJoA.cspx

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SPRINGFIELD, Ore.-- Doctors at Riverbend are treating two people with confirmed cases of swine flu. There are also another 13 people hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, five of whom are in the Intensive Care Unit with pneumonia.

Doctors say the best way to prevent the spread of the virus are to wash your hands often and cover your cough.

http://kezi.com/news/local/134577
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

From this morning's local paper in Eugene:

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/17268994-41/story.csp

Swine flu hitting local residents
By Tim Christie

The Register-Guard

Appeared in print: Saturday, Jul 18, 2009


Though it hasn?t been much in the news since it emerged last spring, H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, has stricken dozens of local residents in recent weeks, health officials said Friday.

?This flu has not taken vacation,? said Betsy Meredith of Lane County Public Health.

Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend is treating 13 patients for pneumonia, a complication of influenza, including five who are sick enough to be admitted to the intensive care unit, said Jill Hoggard-Green, hospital administrator.

The patients? ages range from 14 months to 62 years. Of the 13, two have confirmed cases of swine flu and the rest are suspected cases.

In addition, about 40 patients exhibiting flulike symptoms have been seen in recent weeks at PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics and in the emergency departments at the two Sacred Heart hospitals, Hoggard-Green said.

While seasonal flu typically causes the worst illness in the very old, swine flu appears to be causing more problems for young adults, Meredith said. In Oregon, the median age of those with swine flu is 17. That may be because H1N1 is a novel strain of influenza to which younger people have never been exposed, she said.

Historically, the seasonal influenza starts appearing in Oregon in October and continues until early spring, so it?s unusual to see this many cases in summer, Meredith said.

Since swine flu emerged in Mexico and the United States in March and April, health officials have confirmed 40,617 cases and 263 deaths in the United States and its territories, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Swine flu was first confirmed in Lane County in May. As of Friday, Lane County had 24 confirmed cases of swine flu, according to the state Department of Human Services. But Meredith said the actual number is probably much higher.

Statewide, 464 Oregonians in 19 counties have caught swine flu, and five have died, according to state public health officials.

Public health officials are bracing for a tough flu season this fall and winter, said Dr. Paul Cieslak of the Oregon Public Health Division.

Federal officials say they expect several hundred million doses of swine flu vaccine to be available by fall, though it will require two shots, in addition to a separate shot for seasonal flu, Cieslak said.

Cieslak, Meredith and Hoggard-Green urged people to take preventive measures to keep flu and other illness from spreading. Those include frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and staying home if ill, particularly with a respiratory ailment.
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

I have talked to Dr. Cieslak on the phone periodically. Anything he had to say I would pay attention to very carefully. He is very well informed regarding the flu. As an Oregon resident I am glad to see he was approached for information. :applause:
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

I don't know if I like the title on this thread. The expression "Cluster" of 13 would seem to indicate that all 13 people are epidemologically linked, which does not seem to be the case. They just seem to be the most severe cases in the area. Maybe we should remove the word cluster from the title.
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Thebes was quoting the doctor here so I think we will let it stand for now. While we don't know for certain if they are closely linked they may in fact be linked.

One local health official says it's unusual to see a cluster of flu cases like this during the month of July. Betsy Meredith from Lane County Public Health has some advice for patients with flu-like symptoms. "They should stay home for seven days after the onset of symptoms or 24 hours after the fever has dropped, whichever is longer."
Click to expand...
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

OK. My understanding is that the "cluster" consists of dozens (hundreds?) or cases, of which these 13 are the most severe. Not that it matters that much, but we could call it "Cluster of people with flu-like symptoms, 13 people hospitalized....". I don't think all 13 cases are linked.
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

alert said:
I don't know if I like the title on this thread. The expression "Cluster" of 13 would seem to indicate that all 13 people are epidemologically linked, which does not seem to be the case. They just seem to be the most severe cases in the area. Maybe we should remove the word cluster from the title.
Click to expand...

The KMTR article refers to a local health official calling it a cluster. Presumably they wouldn't do that unless they believed it was related epidemologically:

"One local health official says it's unusual to see a cluster of flu cases like this during the month of July. "
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - Cluster of 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Dark Horse said:
The KMTR article refers to a local health official calling it a cluster. Presumably they wouldn't do that unless they believed it was related epidemologically:

"One local health official says it's unusual to see a cluster of flu cases like this during the month of July. "
Click to expand...

I agree that there is a cluster. But the cluster involves a lot more than just the 13 cases. The cluster I think refers to the dozens of other cases as well. What we call this doesn't really matter.
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

I removed the word "cluster". I only put the word in because the unnamed local health official used it, but it might be a bit misleading.

Shannon, looking at the hospital's website, it looks like it serves a larger population than just Eugene & Springfield - do you know?
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Yes, it serves a much larger area than Springfield and Eugene.
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/swineflu_investigation.shtml

Oregon H1N1 Flu Update

The following message on Oregon's website:

"Last updated on July 24, 2009

Note: This page will not be updated on Friday, July 31st. Please check back on Monday, August 3rd for the latest information."

Well, it's now August 4, and still no update. We know it's taking off here, or at least the adenovirus (or something else) is, folks are getting quite concerned via word of mouth (still a media blackout for the most part), it would be a big help to get some official status report soon! (Is the state health in a crisis mode already and too busy?) :(
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Thank you Flufreak for watching this.
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

I live in Klamath Falls.

I would like to know the official spread, so as to know when to stop feeling silly about the social distancing/mask wearing in lines in public/spraying with alcohol my fresh fruits and vegetables ect.

Thank you for trying to keep up with the information that is being made available.

Andre
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Not too early to wash your hands as often as possible. Make sure you do not touch your mouth, eyes or nose before you wash. Washing fruit, etc... is always a good idea-never know who or what touched them. As for the mask, too early I think. Do try to keep the 6 foot circle as often as practical but don't lose your perspective. While people are dying, unless you are in the group that appears to be at risk, I would worry more about the second wave then the first that is circulating right now.

It appears that keeping your vitamin D levels high appears (still unproven but looks promising) at an optimum level may be important in reducing your risk.
Please see the vitamin D thread here at FT. http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111947Also Maintaining a healthy diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods may also help in lowering your risk of severe side-effects.
 
Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Don't wear a mask in Oregon, people will assume you are either infectious or a cause of panic. Most store owners and other businesses will ask you to leave (or take it off if you are well) and they have a right to do so, at least until public health asks for mask wearing.
Wearing a respirator is a 100 times worse.

P.S. Maybe folks would feel differently in Lane County, a real hot spot to watch
 
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Re: Springfield/Eugene, Oregon - 13 people hospitalized with flu symptoms; 5 in the ICU

Flufreak said:
Don't wear a mask in Oregon, people will assume you are either infectious or a cause of panic. Most store owners and other businesses will ask you to leave (or take it off if you are well) and they have a right to do so, at least until public health asks for mask wearing.
Wearing a respirator is a 100 times worse.
Click to expand...

Reconstructing from memory here...

Following the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, it was common practice (necessary) to wear particle masks due to the fine ash (inhalation of volcanic ash, which is a glass, causes some nasty pulmonary problems). Of course, businesses, particularly banks, required people to remove them indoors.
 
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