Oregon
Shipments of monkeypox vaccines lag far behind demand in Oregon as waitlists grow
Monkeypox is spreading in Oregon, with 32 confirmed and suspected instances up from simply six final month.
“I can definitively say that’s an undercount,” mentioned state epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger at a media briefing Wednesday. Many instances of the rash are adequately subtle that it might not happen to medical doctors to check for the virus, he mentioned.
Whereas Oregon’s first case was linked to journey out of state, Sidelinger says newer instances don’t have an apparent supply, indicating that individuals are getting it regionally. Up to now, the entire identified instances have been in males. Instances have been reported in Clackamas, Washington, Multnomah, and Lane counties.
Few folks in Oregon have been hospitalized as a result of virus, however some sufferers have reported the lesions trigger excessive ache that may make it tough to eat or drink. Monkeypox, also referred to as hMPXV, is a milder relative of the smallpox virus that may trigger painful sores and flu-like signs. It’s hardly ever deadly.
The an infection, which has usually occurred in tropical rainforest areas of central and west Africa, is now inflicting outbreaks in additional than 40 international locations. The worldwide outbreak has grown to just about 14,000 instances, together with 5 deaths.
Nevertheless, as a result of traits of hMPXV, most Oregonians should not susceptible to getting an an infection.
The an infection usually transmits by means of extended skin-to-skin contact with an individual who’s actively sick, or by means of contact with contaminated bedding or clothes. It could actually doubtlessly transmit by means of respiratory droplets, however solely with very prolonged — assume three hours or extra — face-to-face contact.
“This isn’t unfold practically as simply as Covid-19,” Sidelinger mentioned. “It’s not unfold from folks with out signs, or from an off-the-cuff passing by.”
As a result of a lot of the instances to date have been amongst males who’ve intercourse with males, significantly those that have a number of companions or nameless companions, state well being officers mentioned they’re specializing in serving to these folks shield themselves.
“It occurs to be on this social community and sexual community of individuals,” mentioned Kim Toevs, with Multnomah County Public Well being.
Multnomah County has 15 confirmed instances, probably the most within the state.
Vaccine scarcity
Toevs mentioned an absence of vaccines and a scarcity of workers for vaccination clinics are the 2 largest obstacles to controlling the outbreak. A vaccine is out there however in brief provide. It’s being distributed to states primarily based on their inhabitants and an estimate of the higher-risk inhabitants, primarily based on information associated to HIV instances.
If the hMPXV vaccine is given to folks inside 4 days of being uncovered to the virus, it will possibly stop them from changing into sick and doubtlessly infecting different folks. It additionally prevents an infection if it’s given earlier than an individual is uncovered.
The county has obtained about 50 doses reserved for individuals who know they’ve been uncovered to somebody with a confirmed case. As well as, the county obtained 350 doses that officers are giving out in clinics immediately and Saturday to folks on the highest threat of publicity to the virus.
Each appointment has been taken, and the county now has a waitlist of over 500 individuals who had been screened as excessive threat and eligible for the vaccine.
One other cargo of vaccines ought to arrive subsequent week, with 50 extra doses for folks with identified publicity and about 500 doses for high-risk people.
The problem of discovering well being care workers who may give vaccines can also be slowing the response to the outbreak, Toevs mentioned. If Multnomah County officers can establish a couple of extra vaccine groups to assist distribute the pictures, they are able to get extra doses allotted by the state.
Stopping the outbreak
With vaccines nonetheless in brief provide, public well being officers are asking the medical group for assist figuring out instances and inspiring homosexual, trans, and queer individuals who have intercourse with males to take extra steps to guard themselves. Multnomah County has developed suggestions particularly for homosexual, trans, and queer Oregonians. And the state well being authority is encouraging medical doctors to order the check for hMPXV after they see sufferers with unexplained rashes.
Recognizing signs early, limiting skin-to-skin contact with others, and searching for vaccination for those who’re on the highest threat, might help shield your well being, Toevs mentioned. Additionally, she mentioned: Ask any new companions a few rash.
“Don’t have intercourse with a brand new associate at the hours of darkness, with the intention to see if they’ve a rash on their pores and skin earlier than you contact them. And ensure you have some contact info for them. That means in the event that they do get sick otherwise you get sick, you’ll be able to let one another know,” Toevs mentioned.
Having the ability to notify companions for those who develop a rash is extraordinarily necessary as a result of then the general public well being division might help get them a vaccine.
Oregon
Sunset Bay State Park evacuated due to flooding; Shore Acres, Cape Arago inaccessible
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A popular campground on Oregon’s south coast was evacuated due to flooding Friday morning while two other popular parks were inaccessible after a landslide undercut a highway near Charleston and Coos Bay.
Sunset Bay State Park’s campground was impacted when Big Creek came over its banks between Thursday and Friday night, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department officials said.
“The campground will likely remain closed through the weekend due to high water and tide conditions,” OPRD spokeswoman Stefanie Knowlton said. She added that the Sunset Bay Day-Use Area remains open at this time “but could close if flooding continues.” The restroom is closed, but there are portable toilets available.
Shore Acres and Cap Arago also closed by landslide
Just up the road from Sunset Bay, a “significant landslide has occurred” on Cape Arago Highway.
“The slide has caused substantial undermining of the roadway, leading to its closure,” OPRD said. “As a result, both Shore Acres State Park and Cape Arago State Park are currently inaccessible to vehicular traffic.”
The trio of parks — Sunset Bay, Shore Acres and Cape Arago — are three of the more popular destinations on the south coast. It’s unclear how long the area would be inaccessible.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.
Oregon
Kennedie Shuler’s last-second drive the difference in Oregon State’s win over Loyola Marymount
Oregon State finally played a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game that didn’t end in overtime.
But it took some last second heroics to make it happen Thursday night, as Kennedie Shuler’s three-point play with two seconds remaining gave the Beavers a 59-56 win over Loyola Marymount at Gill Coliseum.
It’s the first time in four games the Beavers (7-8, 3-1 WCC) haven’t played overtime in a conference play. With the game tied at 56-56, Shuler took an inbounds pass near the top of the key, drove to the basket and floated a shot off the backboard as she was fouled.
Oregon State won its third consecutive game as Kelsey Rees scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the way. Sela Heide and Catarina Ferreira scored 10 each. Heide scored all her points during the third quarter.
Four players accounted for all of Loyola’s 56 points. Brandi Williams hit four three-pointers and scored 17 points to lead the Lions (6-6, 0-4).
Loyola controlled the first half in taking a 33-26 halftime lead. The Lions spotted Oregon State an early lead, then took over with a 9-2 run midway through the first quarter. LMU led 17-14 after one, the difference a three-pointer by Williams on the final possession.
After Ally Schimel hit a three to tie the game at 17-17, LMU scored 10 consecutive points in less than two minutes. OSU got as close as 29-26 on a three-point play by Rees, but the Lions scored the final four points of the quarter to take a seven-point halftime lead.
Oregon State’s zone defense made a difference in the third quarter, as the Beavers outscored the Lions 20-10 to take a three-point lead. Loyola missed nine consecutive shots and went scoreless for nearly seven minutes as OSU ran off 10 consecutive points to take the lead.
OSU couldn’t shake Loyola during the fourth quarter. Shuler gave the Beavers a five-point lead with eight minutes left, but the Lions scored the next seven points to overtake the Beavers. Ferreira’s pair of free throws with 1:44 left put OSU in front by three points, but the Lions tied it less than a minute later, on a three-pointer by Naudia Evans.
Oregon State earned a chance to win it after forcing Loyola into a tough shot on its final possession. The Beavers called timeout with 4.4 seconds and set up Shuler for the game winner.
Oregon State’s next game is noon Saturday at Washington State.
–Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, ndaschel@oregonian.com or @nickdaschel.
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Oregon
Automatic bid teams Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, Arizona State all lose in CFP quarterfinals
ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham says Peach Bowl loss ‘is 100% on me’
Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham assigns the blame to himself after ASU’s loss to Texas in the 2025 Peach Bowl.
Sports Seriously
Automatic bids to the College Football Playoff in 2024 equated to automatic losses.
Following the conclusion of the quarterfinal round of the initial 12-team playoff, all four of the teams that won their conference and earned a first-round bye are now officially out of contention for the national championship. While the automatic bids were out of the CFP committee’s hands, they likely deserve credit for getting it mostly right with the rest of the field.
No. 1 Oregon (Big Ten) was soundly beaten 41-21 by No. 8 Ohio State, while No. 7 Notre Dame beat No. 2 Georgia (SEC) 23-10, No. 6 Penn State beat No. 3 Boise State (Mountain West) 31-14 and No. 5 Texas beat No. 4 Arizona State (Big 12) 39-31 in an overtime thriller.
No. 12 Clemson also earned an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff for winning the ACC, but the Tigers did not get a first-round bye. They lost 38-24 to Texas in the first-round.
The semifinals features two teams that lost in a conference title game: Penn State and Texas. Notre Dame does not play in a conference, and Ohio State did not advance to the Big Ten title game after losing to rival Michigan in the final week of the regular season.
HIGHS AND LOWS: Winners and losers of College Football Playoff quarterfinals
College Football Playoff quarterfinal results
Here are the final scores for the CFP quarterfinal games. In the first 12-team CFP, all four top seeds lost. Only the Texas-Arizona State matchup was a one-score game, going to overtime.
- Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (2 OT)
- Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14
- Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10
College Football semifinal matchups
Here’s a look at the CFP semifinals matchups:
- Cotton Bowl: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State | 7:30 p.m., ET, Jan 10
- Orange Bowl: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 9
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