Regardless of the wisdom behind the sentiment, there may be no more uninspiring advice than the words “don’t panic.”

Particularly when that’s the guidance – along with “wash your hands” and “don’t touch your face” – for fending off a virus responsible for sickening people across 80-plus countries and killing more than 3,000 – including at least 16 people in the state next door. While pragmatic, such a simple prescription doesn’t provide much comfort when so many big questions remain unanswered and the response, locally and nationally, seems stuck in first gear.

Oregon health officials aren’t wrong in trying to keep the public calm, but they are failing to play their role in meeting that objective. Among the most effective ways to inoculate the population against panic is by providing a daily dose of specific information that not only helps people assess their own risk but assures them that the state is on top of this frightening and evolving situation.

Unfortunately, that kind of transparency and information sharing isn’t Oregon’s forte. Officials have refrained from giving the kind of details about cases that authorities in New York, Washington and elsewhere have freely given. For example, as The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Aimee Green reported, New York has shared information about where patients have been and who might have been exposed. Oregon’s top medical officer said such information isn’t necessary – he says people are most contagious when they are showing symptoms and in close contact with others. But he fails to recognize that giving that information may make people more vigilant about symptoms if they know they were in the same locations.

Oregonian editorials Editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Therese Bottomly, Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, John Maher and Amy Wang. Members of the board meet regularly to determine our institutional stance on issues of the day. We publish editorials when we believe our unique perspective can lend clarity and influence an upcoming decision of great public interest. Editorials are opinion pieces and therefore different from news articles. To respond to this editorial, submit an OpEd or a letter to the editor If you have questions about the opinion section, email Helen Jung , opinion editor, or call 503-294-7621.

While state officials must respect individuals’ privacy, this is a public health threat first. Their primary focus must be on limiting its spread and keeping misinformation and panic at bay. You can’t do that by withholding information under a paternalistic view that the public doesn’t really need to know. Such hoarding of information only makes room for rumor, fear and speculation to move in.

The state, too, should communicate more information about its future plans, such as how soon it will have the capacity to offer broader testing and its plans for quarantining patients if necessary.

There is so much that health officials cannot answer about this disease, yet. There are so many signs of our lack of preparedness, from the nationwide shortage of tests, to overwhelmed phone lines at doctor’s offices and health centers. But providing a consistent, daily update with as much information as possible about potential exposure sites, the number of people under monitoring as well as the state’s strategy for the future gives people reassurance that officials are sharing what is known. And amid so much uncertainty, good information may be the best medicine Oregon can provide.

- The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board