More patients are reporting having the H1N1 virus than the seasonal flu, even though the seasonal flu is currently in its peak season.This trend follows a study by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention that found more cases of H1N1 than seasonal flu nationally.”Flu, to date, seems to be H1N1 over seasonal flu,” said Student Health Center Associate Director Julie Hupperich.Flu season lasts from late November to March with February as the peak of the season, Hupperich said.However, cases of H1N1 are dwindling overall.From the beginning of semester through Feb. 7, the Health Center treated 35 confirmed cases of H1N1, Hupperich said. But the Health Center stopped swabbing patients for the virus at the end of last semester, so the number does not represent the true total.The Health Center still has more than 100 inoculations in their Injection Clinic available free of charge to students, Hupperich said.They are unlikely to order more unless the need arises, Hupperich said.”Despite aggressive marketing, interest in getting the vaccination seems to be dwindling,” Hupperich said.The Health Center usually treats fewer than 10 cases per day, Hupperich said.”Most people who want to get the vaccine have already gotten it,” Hupperich said.Cases of H1N1 first appeared on campus around spring break last year, Hupperich said.—-Contact Grace Montgomery at [email protected]
H1N1 outnumbers seasonal flu cases
February 10, 2010