8 A
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016
Oregon Health Authority reminds residents to receive flu shots
Influenza cases are rising in
Oregon, and although the
increase is expected this time
of year, Oregon Health
Authority (OHA) officials say
it shows flu season is off to a
strong and early start.
It’s also a good reminder
that it’s not too late to get a
flu shot, said Paul Cieslak,
MD, of the OHA Public
Health Division.
“The winter months are a
time when we find ourselves
indoors a lot, gathering with
family, friends and col-
leagues, and it’s also a very
good time for the flu virus to
spread,” said Cieslak, medical
director in Public Health
Division’s
Acute
and
Communicable
Disease
Prevention Section and the
Oregon
Immunization
Program. “People can get a
vaccination now and be ready
for the festivities.”
During the week of Dec. 4-
10, Oregon laboratories
reported 207 specimens that
were positive for influenza.
That’s up from 134 positive
flu specimens during Nov. 27
through Dec. 3, and from 117
positive specimens during
Nov. 20 through 27.
Most of the cases have been
influenza A, this season’s pre-
dominant flu type.
Hospitalizations
have
jumped sharply in recent
weeks, too. So far, there have
been a total of 66 hospitaliza-
tions for influenza-like ill-
nesses — based on monitor-
ing in Clackamas, Multnomah
and Washington counties —
since flu season began the
first week of October.
That includes 23 hospital-
izations the week of Dec. 4
through 10, up from 17 during
Nov. 27 through Dec. 3, and
13 during Nov. 20 through 26.
There have been no pedi-
atric deaths attributed to the
flu this season, officials say.
The Public Health Division
does not track adult flu
deaths.
“While this is shaping up to
be a heavy flu season, this
uptick during this time of the
year is fairly typical,” Cieslak
said. “Flu season doesn’t usu-
ally peak until late February
or early March, so people can
and should get their flu
shots.”
Flu is a virus that causes
mild to severe respiratory ill-
ness and can lead to hospital-
ization. The virus kills thou-
sands of people in the U.S.
each year. People who are at
higher risk of severe illness or
death include children, adults
older than 65, pregnant
women and those with chron-
ic medical conditions or weak
immune systems.
The flu vaccine is the best
protection against flu. It can
take up to two weeks to
become effective, so getting it
earlier in the season is ideal.
That said, it’s not too late,
since flu season usually lasts
THIS WEEK
ON
THE
until spring.
Vaccinations are recom-
mended for everyone 6
months and older.
So far, flu vaccine manu-
facturers have shipped more
than 1.1 million doses to
Oregon during the 2016-2017
flu season. More than a mil-
lion of these doses have been
reported to Oregon’s ALERT
Immunization Information
System as having been admin-
istered.
Other ways to help prevent
flu:
• Stay home and limit con-
tact with others if you are
sick; that includes staying
home from work or school
when you are sick.
• Cover your nose and
mouth with a tissue when you
cough or sneeze. Throw the
tissue out when you are done.
• Wash hands with soap and
water. Use an alcohol-based
hand rub if soap and water are
not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes,
nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect sur-
faces and objects that may
have flu germs on them.
• Avoid getting coughed
and sneezed on.
Flu vaccine is available
from health care providers,
local health departments and
many pharmacies. To find a
flu vaccine clinic, visit
www.flu.oregon.gov and use
OHA’s flu vaccine locator
tool.
COAST
A W EEKLY L ISTING OF C OMMUNITY E VENTS IN THE F LORENCE A REA
S UBMIT ALL E VENTS I NFORMATION VIA E MAIL TO P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
Gem Walkers will be walking the
new Toledo Ridge and River
C ANDLE LIGHT SERVICES
YRE. This 10K walk includes
• Florence Christian Church
some hilly areas that would be
invites families and all members
difficult for wheelchairs or
of the community to its Christmas strollers.
Candle Light services today at
Those wishing to carpool to
4 and 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. Toledo should meet at the
25, at 10 a.m., at Second and Ivy
Commons in Yachats. The carpool
streets.
will depart at 9 a.m., so arrive a
• A Christmas Eve Candlelight
few minutes early.
Service will be held at
Walkers can also meet at JC’s
Resurrection Lutheran Church,
Thriftway in Toledo at 10 a.m. to
located about one mile south of
register for the walk.
the Siuslaw River Bridge on
The walk will begin at 10:15
Highway 101, at 5 p.m. The
a.m.
church is also having Christmas
morning Sunday Services on Dec.
M ORNING A FTER F UN R UN
25 at 10 a.m. Everyone is wel-
The 30-plus year tradition con-
come.
tinues in Old Town Florence dur-
ing this year’s annual Morning
Upcoming events
After Fun Run (walk or stroll) for
those who want to “get going first
N EW YEAR ’ S WALKABOUT
thing next year.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 3, the Coastal
The run/walk will take place
Saturday, Dec. 24
CUSTOM ENGRAVING
& CUTTING
New Years Day, Sunday, Jan. 1,
beginning at 10 a.m., under the
Siuslaw River Bridge on Bay
Street.
The walk/run is about 3.1 miles.
Afterwards, share stories and hot
drinks at Siuslaw Coffee Roasters
in Old Town. There is no entry
fee, no motorized things, no train-
ing, no racing and no complain-
ing.
P EACE H IKE IN YACHATS
Start the New Year off by join-
ing with the Yachats Trails
Committee and other coastal resi-
dents for the Seventh Annual
Yachats New Year’s Day Peace
Hike.
Participants should meet at the
Yachats Commons, 441 N.
Highway 10,1 in Yachats, at 10
a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017.
For more information, contact
Commerical • Residential
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One Time Pick-Up.
We buy, sell and consign quality
estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture.
Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with
precious & semi precious stones.
541-997-5691
541-361-9080
Easy curb side recycling program-
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Florence, Oregon
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Florence Antiques
C ITY C LUB HOSTS B EAR ,
I NSKIP
Emily Bear and Christy Inskip,
who work with Lane County
Prevention Section of Public
Health, will speak at City Club of
Florence Friday, Jan. 6, at Ocean
Dunes Golf Links Club house at
3345 Munsel Lake Road.
A lunch menu is available from
11:30 a.m. to noon; the program
runs from noon to 1 p.m. and is
open to the public.
The talk will focus on what
Lane County does for underage
drinking and tobacco prevention
and the work being done in the
Siuslaw area.
For more information, call Ruth
Baumrucker at 541-305-9003.
ESTATE JEWELRY AND
ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!!
Awards • Plaques • Name Badges
Gifts • Signage • Glassware
Joanne Kittel at jnkittel@peak.
org, call 541-547-3144 or visit the
Yachats Trails Committee online
at www.yachatstrails.org.
Siuslaw News
148 Maple St. • PO Box 10 • Florence, OR 97439
(541) 997-3441 • Fax (541) 997-7979
www.thesiuslawnews.com
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