TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
Since August 10, swine flu, or the H1N1 virus, has infected 671 people at the University according to Julie Hupperich, the Student Health Center’s associate director.
In contrast, the Health Center saw a total of only 10 cases from May 1 to August 9.
“That just goes to show that it really blossomed here on campus after the first week of August,” Hupperich said.
Reasons for the increase include students living in close quarters and person to person contact in places like the classroom, Hupperich said.
But she said she can’t be sure how many more students H1N1 will affect, especially since flu season is here.
“This is a new arena so we’re not sure if [H1N1] will taper off or if we’ll see the same volume we have been, but we do anticipate it will overlap with seasonal flu,” she said.
Erin Henley, political science sophomore, said she caught H1N1 a week before fall classes resumed during sorority recruitment.
“I think I got it from the sorority house or going to the health center,” Henley said. Her symptoms included a sore threat, a fever of 104 degrees and sweats.
Symptoms for the seasonal flu and swine flu are similar. However, Hupperich said swine flu may be milder than seasonal flu depending on the individual.
Some students experience nausea, vomiting, high fever and diarrhea with seasonal flu, Hupperich said.
“It doesn’t really impact how our physicians treat the illness,” she said.
Most doctors will probably prescribe TAMIFLU and recommend rest and liquids, Hupperich said.
“It took me about a week and a half to feel well,” Henley said.
But Hupperich said even if students feel better after two or three days, they may still be contagious.
“It take’s about seven days,” she said.
The Health Center ordered seasonal flu vaccines in February which should be available around mid October.
“We’re still waiting to hear about swine flu, but from what we’ve heard most recently it’ll be available in late October or early November,” Hupperich said. “But we don’t know if [the vaccine] will be available to us.”
The swine flu vaccine may be distributed on a priority basis, she said.
“We’re not sure when we’ll have access to it,” Hupperich said.
Also, the Health Center is not giving out doctors’ excuses.
In the past, students have taken advantage of doctors’ excuses, Hupperich said.
“The most important thing I would tell students is to be in good communication with our professors,” she said. “Most professors wouldn’t want or expect you to come to class. By staying in good communication they hopefully can make accommodations for you to do work from home or make ups.”
Though Henley was well in time for classes, she missed rush.
“I don’t think I would have gone to class,” she said. “I don’t ever get upset about sickness, but I felt so bad I called my mom crying.”
Since Henley already had swine flu, she is less likely to catch it again, but she is taking preventative measures anyway.
“ I’ve been washing my hands, not that I was disgusting before, but I hear the germs spread so fast so I’ve been washing them more,” she said. “And I’ve been taking vitamins.”
Steps in preventing H1N1 include hand washing, avoiding close contact with sick people and keeping hands away from eyes, nose or mouth.
If symptoms like fever, dizziness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, chills, fatigue and body aches persist, contact the Health Center at 225-578-6271 or a medical professional.
