[PL-Directors] FW: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Announces State Summit on Influenza Preparedness

[Jim Scheppke]

Dear Directors: I thought I would pass along this press release from the
Governor. I¹d suggest that your library be represented at this in some way.
Those of you in city and county libraries may want to make sure someone is
going from your city or county. Those of you in district libraries may want
to attend yourselves. It seems like there are important and potentially
difficult issues with H1N1 influenza that public library directors will need
to plan for. There is a link to the registration form below. I¹m sure this
will fill up fast. --> Jim

Jim Scheppke, State Librarian
Oregon State Library
250 Winter St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4367
(fax) 503-585-8059
jim.b.scheppke at state.or.us



------ Forwarded Message

 
      Theodore R. Kulongoski           Governor
 
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2009
 
Contacts: 
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
 
Governor Announces State Summit on Influenza Preparedness
Summit will help to prepare our schools, communities for a possible H1N1
outbreak
 
(Salem) ­ Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that the state will lead a
summit on how to prepare for a possible widespread outbreak of novel
influenza A (H1N1) later this year.
 
State agencies, local government officials, emergency managers, private
businesses, health care systems and school administrators are encouraged to
attend. 
 
As novel H1N1 continues to be found in Oregon over the summer even as
seasonal flu declines, officials are preparing for the possibility of a
large outbreak in the fall. The flu summit will cover, among other things,
how schools, health care systems, employers, and state and local governments
can prepare for a large possible outbreak.
 
Federal health officials are advising that employers could be facing
absentee rates as high as 40% if there is a widespread outbreak in the
United States. 
 
³Preparing today for the possibility of a large novel H1N1 outbreak in the
fall will help us mitigate the impact if it does occur,² Governor Kulongoski
said. ³Schools, businesses and state and local governments should all be
making plans about what to do if they are affected.²
 
The summit will provide the most up-to-date information on H1N1 and best
predictions for the fall, including the latest update about a safe and
effective vaccine becoming available. The summit will also cover guidance on
school closures, business continuity planning and policies to reduce the
spread of the virus.
 
The summit will be held at the Salem Conference Center on August 21st.
Attendees should register at www.flu.oregon.gov <http://www.flu.oregon.gov/>
. This Web site will remain to be the best place for the public to get the
latest information on H1N1 and its effect in Oregon.
In the meantime, state officials continue to urge Oregonians to take common
sense precautions to protect themselves and others. Cover your nose and
mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often with
soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaners and stay home when ill.
 
-30-
 
 
 
 


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