SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Ted Kulongoski has signed an executive order giving the state public health director more authority to prepare Oregon for a major flu outbreak and manage the response.
The governor said the order issued Thursday grants Dr. Mel Kohn clear authority to respond as needed to protect the health of Oregonians in the event of an outbreak.
Kulongoski said that issuing the order now gives Kohn the ability to react more quickly to any flu threat.
He said the order also allows Kohn to make decisions about public health responses that cross various state and tribal jurisdictions, if needed.
The governor said his order builds on steps the state has taken since last spring to educate the public about pandemic H1N1 influenza, or swine flu.
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