First swine flu case confirmed in Union County

It’s official. The H1N1 virus has reached Union County.

The state confirmed Monday that a patient admitted to Grande Ronde Hospital suffered from the H1N1 virus.

It is not known when the person was admitted to the hospital. No other information about the case or the individual is available.

The Wallowa County Health Department reported Tuesday there have been no confirmed cases of H1N1 within Wallowa County.

Only those who are hospitalized or have died are being tested for H1N1 in Oregon, Griffin said.

Griffin said that the Center for Human Development, Inc., Union County’s local health department, is working closely with a broad group of community members that include representatives from the county, medical community and educational institutions to develop and implement a plan to provide the H1N1 vaccine to all interested Union County residents.

Everyone who wants the H1N1 vaccine will be able to get one over the course of the flu season, Griffin said.

Because initial shipments of the vaccine will be small, they need to be given to priority groups first, Griffin said. Priority groups have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state as those who have a higher risk for contracting the virus. These priority groups include:

• Children and young adults 6 months to 24 years old • Pregnant women

• People caring for or living with infants younger than 6 months of age

• People aged 25 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at a higher risk for influenza-related complications

• Health care workers

• Frontline law enforcement and public safety workers

“If you fall into one of these categories, CHD and our partners will offer vaccine clinics at a variety of easily accessible locations as soon as the vaccine arrives,’’ Griffin said. “If you are not in one of these priority groups, we will offer H1N1 vaccine clinics as soon as additional supplies become available.’’

In the meantime, Griffin said, the best way to protect yourself from H1N1 and seasonal flu is to wash your hands, cover your cough and stay home if you are sick.

It is common to run to the doctor or hospital emergency room when we feel sick, Griffin said.

“If Union County has a large number of flu cases, doctors and the hospital are likely to be extremely busy. Unless you experience the emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention, your best course of action is to stay home,’’ Griffin said.

In children these emergency warning signs include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing

• Bluish or gray skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Not waking up or not interacting

• A child who is so irritable that he/she does not want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

• Fever with a rash

And in adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

When in doubt, call your doctor first and he or she can advise you on the best course of action, Griffin said.

If you or someone you care for does have flu symptoms, Griffin said, these are some important actions to take:

• Rest and stay as comfortable as possible.

• Stay hydrated by drinking small amounts of fluid frequently, even if you are not feeling thirsty. Watch for signs of dehydration including weakness or unresponsiveness, or decreased output of urine.

• Watch for complications and call a doctor right away if you experience the emergency warning signs listed above.

More information about these and other flu-related topics is available on CHD’s website, www.chdinc.org. The site is updated as new information becomes available, Griffin said.