Communicable Disease Control Section

Influenza (Flu) and Other Respiratory Illnesses

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and sometimes lead to death. Every year, very young children, people over 64 years old, and people with chronic medical conditions are among those at greater risk for serious illness or death due to influenza. Multnomah County encourages these high-risk groups to get vaccinated. While in other years we have recommended flu vaccine to anyone else wanting to reduce their chance of getting influenza, this year's vaccine shortfall means only people in high-risk groups should be vaccinated at this time.

Links to current CDC information:

• Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update
• Flu Activity - Weekly Report

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 Community Education Materials

Spanish | Russian | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog

Flu Policy Information
Websites
Media Releases

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.
    
• 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:

CDC Influenza website





WHO websites with information on influenza and respiratory disease outbreaks:

• Global Influenza Programme
• Disease Outbreak News
• Influenza

• Other interesting sites:
  
• National Institute for Medical Research - Influenza links
• ProMED Mail: electronic reporting system for outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases & toxins
• Influenza Update NetConference, November 19, 2004

Policy information specific to the vaccine supply

• Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Influenza webpage:
  
• Information from the Oregon Department of Human Services’ Influenza webpage:
  

Community Education Materials

By language

• Noro-Virus Factsheet
• Noro-Virus Disinfecting Guidelines
• Hand Hygiene Guidelines
  


• Influenza Facts (From Multnomah County Health Department)
  


• Influenza vaccination: A Shot in the Arm or FluMist?
  


• 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
    
  
  
  • Link to Respiratory Etiquette information in multiple languages (Cambodian, Chinese, English, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese; From Washington State Department of Health).
    
  
  
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Influenza Website:
    
    General information about the flu:
    - Updated! "What Everyone Should Know about Flu and Flu Vaccine".
    Also available in a poster version and in the following languages: Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog
    
    - Fact Sheet: Key Facts about Flu Vaccine  Also available in: Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Tagalog
    
    - Questions & Answers about the 2004-05 Flu Season
    
    - Vaccination is Not the Only Way to Help Prevent the Flu - poster
    
    

Community Education Materials - by language:

• Spanish:
• Respiratory Etiquette Poster for clinics and hospitals
• Respiratory Etiquette Poster for daycares, schools, and places like that
• "What Everyone Should Know about Flu and Flu Vaccine"
• 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
• "What Everyone Should Know about Flu and Flu Vaccine "
• Fact Sheet: Key Facts about Flu Vaccine
• Chinese
• "What Everyone Should Know about Flu and Flu Vaccine"
• Fact Sheet: Key Facts about Flu Vaccine
• Tagalog:
• "What Everyone Should Know about Flu and Flu Vaccine"
• Fact Sheet: Key Facts about Flu Vaccine

Some other good websites:

• National Coalition for Adult Immunization
  


• American Lung Association:
  In English - Influenza Information



In Spanish - Información sobre la gripe




• Latest news on influenza through MedlinePlus
  


• Links to numerous other sites through the University of Iowa's Hardin Library

Page updated February 22, 2008