Oregon: Josephine County declares swine flu emergency

Associated Press - October 23, 2009 6:25 PM ET

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Josephine County has declared a state of emergency over the swine flu.

The declaration Friday by county commissioners in Grants Pass cited two people dead, 21 in the hospital, and many more sick with the H1N1 virus.

County health director Belle Shepherd says the declaration will allow the county to get faster results on state lab tests and extra medical personnel if the local hospital gets overwhelmed.

Shepherd says Josephine County has 1 of the highest rates of hospitalization of swine flu cases in the state, and that hospitals in Grants Pass and Medford are near capacity - a condition known as code yellow.

Commissioners in neighboring Jackson County, where Medford is located, will consider making the same declaration at their meeting Wednesday.
hat-tip Treyfish