The University of Colorado at Boulder today announced that the total number of H1N1 cases reported on campus since the beginning of the school year stands at four. Test results for Type A Influenza have identified 92 probable H1N1 cases since the start of the school year, up from 85 last week, and two students have been hospitalized since the start of the school year. Both have recovered from their flu symptoms and are out of the hospital.
The university has seen 370 students with flu-like symptoms since Aug. 1. Clinicians did not start seeing large numbers of walk-in student patients at Wardenburg Health Center until after Aug. 19. These numbers include students living both on and off campus.
Wardenburg officials say they are seeing about 100 students a week with flu-like symptoms. The university has scaled back its Type A influenza testing, testing only students who meet high-risk criteria or who are hospitalized.
"We are still seeing that this flu is no more severe than the seasonal influenza," said Dr. Pamela Talley, lead physician for medical clinics at Wardenburg. "The medical risk to the general community is still not greater than that seen with seasonal flu."
Any CU-Boulder student who is experiencing influenza-like illness can call either Wardenburg Health Center or their medical provider to discuss treatment options. People who are at increased risk and have influenza-like symptoms or people without risks but who are experiencing influenza-like illness with worsening symptoms, should be seen by a health care provider promptly.
Populations considered at increased risk of H1N1 complications include pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems (such as those undergoing chemotherapy), people with diabetes, asthma or other complicating medical conditions, and small children. Wardenburg Health Center will consider only people in these at-risk populations or those with worsening flu symptoms as potential recipients of antiviral medications such as Tamiflu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend that universities cancel large-scale events or quarantine students or any individuals who may be infected as an H1N1 containment strategy. At this time, CU-Boulder is not canceling any special events or classes and is actively monitoring Type A influenza cases in cooperation with Boulder County Public Health.
In accordance with the CDC recommendations, CU-Boulder is asking ill students to self-isolate and monitor their symptoms; to cover their noses and mouths when they cough or sneeze; and to frequently wash their hands with soap and warm water or disinfect with hand sanitizer.
Students living in the residence halls who have flu-like symptoms are urged to stay in their residence hall rooms, not to enter large-group settings until 24 hours after any fever has ended (without the aid of medications), and report flu-like symptoms to their hall director or resident adviser. Housing and dining staff will deliver kits including food items and surgical masks to residents who report flu-like illness. Community Health information tables have been provided at dining facilities during meal times to encourage good hygiene practices and to answer questions that students have about the flu.
CU-Boulder is coordinating with Boulder County Public Health on future vaccination clinics and to acquire a portion of the national stockpile of medications. Wardenburg Health Center will kick off a series of H1N1 vaccination clinics for students, faculty and staff. Health officials project the vaccine will be available in mid- to late-October.
Students who think they may have symptoms related to H1N1 may call the Wardenburg Health Center at 303-492-3435. Parents with H1N1 concerns can call Parent Relations at 303-492-1380.
The CU-Boulder H1N1 Flu Web site has information on measures to prevent and manage influenza-like illness at .
Wardenburg Health Center has posted recommendations on protecting against and treating influenza on its Web site at .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for institutions of higher education are posted at .