So far, 13 probable cases of swine flu have been reported in King County and Swedish Medical Center in Ballard is in the process of taking steps to prepare for what the World Health Organization is warning could be a pandemic.

Rayburn Lewis, executive and medical director at Swedish, said Swedish is studying recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization on what they can do to prepare.

"We're taking this very seriously and urging people to take the precautions in the news and on Web sites," Lewis said.

He said he is deciding what measures can be implemented at Swedish within the day and what will take more time.

The medical center is considering types of isolation procedures for infected patients to protect staff, visitors and other patients, Lewis said.

Jennifer Graves, administrative director for the Ballard Swedish Medical Center, said Swedish will look into setting up separate screening areas for possible swine flu cases.

To stay healthy, the King County Health Department is urging residents to practice the same procedures, such as washing hands regularly and staying home if sick, they would during a typical flu season.

"We really are encouraging people to protect themselves," Lewis said.

Ray Jarris, president of Ballard Emergency Physicians at Swedish, said the strain of swine flu in the United States seems to be relatively mild, and most people recover without complications.

Swine flu, or H1N1 Influenza A, is normally found in pigs, though this type is spreading between humans and cannot be contracted through contact with pigs, according to the health department.