University of St. Thomas H1N1 (or Influenza-Like-Illness) Report for Oct. 29, 2009

By Madonna McDermott, director, Student Health Service & Wellness Center

The University of St. Thomas Student Health Service continues to see and triage high numbers of ill students. The increase in influenza on campus mirrors what is taking place in the nation. As noted below, however, most of these cases have been relatively mild and the majority of students have already returned to classes.
To better serve students, a new triage screening location will be available soon. We hope to open the mobile unit by the end of next week. It will be located on the main campus between the Student Health Service (in Brady Hall) and the Physical Plant.  The mobile unit will provide much-needed additional space to see the numbers of students who are accessing the university’s clinic. 
Here is a synopsis of H1N1 activity for the eighth week of the semester, Oct. 21 to 28:
At St. Thomas, the following information refers to students only:

• There were 115 unconfirmed new cases this week of either clinically evaluated or self-reported influenza-like illnesses (H1N1). That is up from 74 cases reported the previous week.
• A total of 393 cases now have been reported since the beginning of the semester. However, many of these cases were relatively mild and students have returned to class.
• The majority of students with H1N1 reside off campus.
• There has ben a slight increase in on-campus (residential) students with flu, but no significant clusters have been identified.
• Students are reminded that the H1N1 Web reporting absentee site is to be used only once. (To use that site, click on the "Student H1N1 Report of Absence" button on the St. Thomas Pandemic Web site at: http://www.stthomas.edu/pandemic)
• Students are asked to please refer to the UST Student Self-Screening Triage Protocol chart for assistance in determining if they should be evaluated by a health-care professional. The chart can be seen at: H1N1 Triage Protocol.
• The St. Thomas Student Health Service has yet to receive shipment of H1N1 vaccine. Community clinics serving pediatrics have been given priority for receiving this first round of vaccine.
• You can find a seasonal flu shot clinic at this Minnesota Department of Health Web site: http://www.health.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/idepc/fluschedule/fluclinic_search.cgi

Nationally:

• Nationwide, 17,108 confirmed cases of H1N1 have been reported with an additional 10,025 unconfirmed H1N1 cases with 53 deaths.
• Forty-six states reported geographically widespread influenza activity.