Healthy People in Healthy Communities
Communicable Disease Control Section
Influenza (Flu) and Other Respiratory Illnesses
Influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu can cause mild to serious illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is be getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from flu.
Who should get vaccinated for influenza this year?
Anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu should get vaccinated; including children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday. However, people who are at highest risk of complications from the flu should definitely get vaccinated each year. This includes:
- Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
- Pregnant women,
- People 50 years of age and older,
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and,
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Additionally, people who live with or care for those at high risk of complications from the flu, including those listed above and household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age and health care workers should also consider getting vaccinated each year.
Links to current CDC information:
Below is information on influenza, including links to useful websites.
Most documents are in PDF format; Acrobat Reader required. Download free Acrobat Reader
Table of Contents:
Information for Health Care Providers and links to other websites
Community Education Materials
By language: Spanish | Russian | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog
Information for Healthcare Providers (and Anyone Looking for More Detailed Info)
- General communicable disease reporting
- A number of communicable diseases are reportable
by physicians to local health departments in Oregon. Individual
cases of influenza
are not "reportable." However, clusters or outbreaks of
any illness, including influenza, are reportable. For a list of physician-reportable
diseases and conditions in Oregon, click HERE
- Reports of communicable diseases and clusters of illness are made
to the patient's local county health department. For information
on disease reporting to Multnomah County Health Department, click HERE.
- A number of communicable diseases are reportable
by physicians to local health departments in Oregon. Individual
cases of influenza
are not "reportable." However, clusters or outbreaks of
any illness, including influenza, are reportable. For a list of physician-reportable
diseases and conditions in Oregon, click HERE
- Respiratory
Etiquette Poster for clinics and hospitals
(Adapted from Minnesota Department of Health)
In Spanish | In Russian | In Vietnamese - Some good websites for healthcare professionals:
- Oregon State Influenza Website
- WHO websites with information on influenza and respiratory disease outbreaks:
- National Institute for Medical Research - Influenza links
- ProMED Mail: electronic reporting system for outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases & toxins
- Noro-Virus Factsheet
- Noro-Virus Disinfecting Guidelines
- Hand Hygiene Guidelines
- Influenza Facts (From Multnomah County Health Department)
- Simple ways to protect yourself from respiratory diseases
that are spread from person-to-person (or, "Your Mother was right...")
- Respiratory Etiquette description
(From Multnomah County Health Department)
- Respiratory
Etiquette Poster for daycares, schools, and places like that
(Adapted from Minnesota Department of Health)
In Spanish | In Russian | In Vietnamese
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Influenza Website:
General information about the flu:
- Fact Sheet: Key Facts about Flu Vaccine Also available in: Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog
- FREE flu materials to download
- Respiratory Etiquette description
Community Education Materials - by language:
- Spanish:
- Respiratory Etiquette Poster for clinics and hospitals
- Respiratory Etiquette Poster for daycares, schools, and places like that
- CDC Flu Website in Spanish
- Fact Sheet: Key Facts about Flu Vaccine
- Russian:
- Respiratory Etiquette Poster for clinics and hospitals
- Respiratory Etiquette Poster for daycares, schools, and places like that
- Vietnamese:
- Respiratory Etiquette Poster for clinics and hospitals
- Respiratory Etiquette Poster for daycares, schools, and places like that
- Fact Sheet: Key Facts about Flu Vaccine
- CDC Flu Website in Vietnamese
- Chinese
- Tagalog:
Contact the
Communicable Disease (CD) Control Section:
Address:
426 SW Stark Street,
3rd Floor
Portland, Oregon 97204
Phone: 503 988 3406
Fax: 503 988 3407
Hours*: 8am – 5pm
*Some programs or clinics within the CD Section may have
different hours; call
ahead if you need to verify hours.
Page updated October 23, 2008