Coos County has had its first case of the bug known as swine flu.

With the flu season gaining speed, health officials expect to confirm more cases of H1N1 influenza soon.

“It’s not a tsunami, but it’s definitely hitting,” said Dr. Hugh Tyson, Coos County’s health officer.

Tyson said a test showed in late August that one child living in the county had the illness. There is a second suspected case, with test results due Monday.

“We’re pretty sure of others,” he said Friday.

Health care workers and physicians have assembled a Coos County Medical Advisory Committee on Influenza, which met this week.

“Reports (Thursday) night were the honeymoon is over,” he said. “We are now definitely seeing what almost surely is swine flu.”

The state health division is not testing every single suspected case this fall. State health officials are testing only those patients who are hospitalized with suspected influenza.

This week, Curry County health officials confirmed one case of H1N1 in a school-age child in Brookings. On Thursday, the school district hosted a flu vaccine clinic, and employees are doing extra cleaning and sanitizing.

Tyson said there have been reports of influenza-like illness with members of the Southwestern Oregon Community College sports teams. The illness has been reported in other Southern Oregon counties, too.

Coos County Public Health is expecting to receive 600 doses of intranasal (nose spray) H1N1 vaccine next week. That vaccine is a live virus that will be allocated first to high-risk individuals.

That’s just the start. The more typical injectable vaccine is due in mid-October.

The seasonal flu vaccine already is available at the health department, clinics and pharmacies. Tyson said people shouldn’t forgo a regular flu shot in anticipation of getting a dose of the H1N1 vaccine.

“We’re definitely recommending both,” he said.

If you do get sick, Tyson offers these insights:

•  Most people who get H1N1 or regular flu can recover at home.
•  Remember to stay home until you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

Click here to lean more about the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu).