Oregon official praises decision to close WOU

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Western Oregon University leaders made the right call in ordering their campus closed through Monday because of a probable case of swine flu, a top state official said Friday.

Oregon Human Services Director Bruce Goldberg told a legislative hearing that closing the campus helped avoid unnecessarily exposing 1,500 visitors who had been expected to attend track and field championships at the Monmouth campus this weekend.

There have been no suspected swine flu cases at Oregon's other universities. But Goldberg said the state has been in touch with officials at those schools to discuss contingency plans — which could include campus closures if necessary.

"If the situation warrants it, absolutely," he said. "What you're seeing nationally is that when needed there have been local elementary schools and high schools that have closed" because of suspected swine flu cases.

So far Oregon has four probable cases of swine flu, including an unidentified male student at Western Oregon University. Officials at the school say the student lives in an off-campus apartment, but may have had contact with others in recent days.

Goldberg and other health and emergency management officials were invited to testify at a House Human Services Committee hearing to give lawmakers an update on state and local readiness to deal with the flu outbreak.

They said Oregon on Saturday is expected to receive the state's allotment of anti-viral drugs from the federal emergency stockpile.

Goldberg said the state will receive about 500,000 doses of the drugs, along with supplies of gloves and masks. He said health officials have no plans to dispatch anti-virals at this point.

"We don't think there is a need to distribute it," he said.

Echoing comments of federal health officials, Goldberg also said no vaccination for swine flu is expected to be available until the fall.

(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.)