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WFU swine-flu reports called no cause for alarm
Most cases are mild seasonal flu, official says
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Published: September 2, 2009
Updated: 09/02/2009 12:35 am
Public-health officials said yesterday that the reported cases of swine flu at Wake Forest University call for vigilance among the students, faculty, staff and the public rather than alarm.
The Student Health Service at WFU reported that nearly 90 students have flu-like symptoms, said Kevin Cox, a spokesman for the university. The school sent a small number of samples to the N.C. State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh to determine if the students have swine flu.
WFU has two confirmed cases of swine flu, said Dr. Tim Monroe, the director of the Forsyth County Health Department.
"We are going to see a lot of the virus when students are returning to campuses right now," Monroe said. Swine flu "is a mild pandemic for the world. At this point, we are going to watch it."
Since it first emerged in Mexico in April, the global swine-flu epidemic has caused more than 1 million Americans to fall ill and has killed more than 500. As it has spread around the world, the flu has infected tens of thousands and killed nearly 2,000.
Since the epidemic first started, nine people in North Carolina have died of swine flu, state health officials said. Hospitals across the state have treated 175 people for swine flu.
Wake Forest University is still asking those students suffering from flu-like symptoms to stay in their dorm rooms or off-campus housing to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus, Cox said. The school will continue to hold classes and campus events.
"At this point, students are having mild cases of flu, and they are recovering," Cox said. "They are going to their rooms, getting healthy and coming back to class."
WFU is among many universities and colleges in North Carolina that have reported cases of flu, but many of those cases have yet to be confirmed as swine flu, said Dr. Megan Davies, a state epidemiologist in Raleigh. Health experts say that hundreds of college students nationwide could get sick as the virus moves through their campuses.
"If your child is at school, you need to be concerned about it," Davies said. "Most colleges, universities and schools will see flu activity."
People who get the flu likely will recover in three to four days, Davies said.
"But for those days, you really feel bad," she said.
Symptoms of seasonal flu and swine flu include headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, high fever and sore throat.
Bill Furney, a spokesman for the N.C. Division of Epidemiology, said that reports of confirmed cases of swine flu don't specifically mention those that occur statewide at colleges and universities. Counties are reporting the cases to state health officials.
"If they don't have it yet, they will have it soon," Furney said of colleges and universities. "That is the definition of a pandemic."
Winston-Salem State University hasn't had any reported cases of swine flu, but three students in summer school had seasonal flu in the past two months, said Aaron Singleton, a WSSU spokesman.
"We have been fortunate, so far," Singleton said.
The school has e-mailed its students, faculty members and staff members, telling them about the swine flu and steps to prevent its spread on campus.
The local health department is working on a plan to distribute the vaccine for swine flu to local medical providers, pharmacies, college campuses and its clinics, Monroe said.
Five companies are producing the vaccine for the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
By mid-October, the vaccine will be shipped to clinics, doctor's offices and health departments. Monroe said that people will need to get a shot for seasonal flu, and two shots to prevent swine flu.
Federal health officials are expecting an ample supply of swine-flu vaccine, Dr. Jay Butler, the director of the CDC's swine-flu task force, told reporters last month.
"We can't stop the tide of flu any more than we can turn a hurricane in its course or stop the earth shaking during an earthquake," Butler said. "But we can mitigate the effects and help prevent people from becoming severely ill by preparing well and acting effectively."
■ John Hinton can be reached at 727-7299 or at jhinton@wsjournal.com.
■ The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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