Oregon County Says Flu Taking No Summer Break

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Lane County authorities say swine flu hasn't taken the summer off.
Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend has treated 13 patients for pneumonia, a complication of influenza, including five who are sick enough to be admitted to the intensive care unit, said Administrator Jill Hoggard-Green.
The patients range from 14 months to 62 years old. Two have confirmed cases of swine flu, and the rest are suspected cases.
About 40 patients exhibiting flu-like 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.
Public health officials say the flu season usually begins in Oregon in October and continues until early spring.
Swine flu was first confirmed in Lane County in May.
As of Friday, the county had 24 confirmed cases, according to the state Department of Human Services. Betsy Meredith of Lane County Public Health said the actual number is probably much higher.
Statewide, 464 Oregonians in 19 counties have caught swine flu, and five have died.
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, although it will require two shots, in addition to a separate shot for seasonal flu, Cieslak said.