Colleges report H1N1 cases in similar ways

As H1N1 runs its course and becomes increasingly widespread, colleges campuses across the country are moving toward a standard method for tracking possible cases — namely, having students call health services or or visit in person.

According to the American College Health Association, 5,959 cases of possible H1N1 were reported on U.S. college campuses during the week of Oct. 3-9.

The virus has become relatively common across the country, with a full 92 percent of the 259 colleges surveyed by the ACHA having reported new cases of suspected H1N1 during that week.

Schools like Emory and Washington State University, both of which had large outbreaks of the virus earlier this fall, have begun using similar methods to report cases of H1N1.

An administrator from Emory’s Student Health Services said that, to be on the safe side, most people who come in with flu-like symptoms are monitored, and, “if there is any doubt, the case is treated as H1N1.”

For instance, Emory junior Carlos Marquez visited to Emory’s Student Health Services when he was experiencing flu-like symptoms.

After being monitored for a few days, Marquez was told that his symptoms were “more in line with a simple cold” and was prescribed rest.

Because students like Marquez may be included in suspected H1N1 case totals, the Emory administrator said it is likely that the figures coming from schools like Emory are an overestimate.

At Washington State University, more than 2,600 students reported likely cases of H1N1 last month.

WSU’s Health & Wellness Services has stayed abreast the flood of H1N1 reports by accepting phone calls and visits of students experiencing the flu-like symptoms and recording them immediately.

At Penn, the number of cases as reported by Student Health Service is on the rise — more than double the national college average as reported by the ACHA.

According to SHS Director Evelyn Wiener, Penn reports cases on the basis of students who “report flu-like symptoms.”

Such symptoms can be reported three ways: on the phone, in person at Student Health Service, or in the emergency room.

Similarly, Dartmouth reports all cases of influenza-like illness, also commonly called ILI, said Dawn Harland, Dartmouth Associate Director for Clinical Affairs at College Health Service.

Harland said cases are reported as ILI either over the phone or in person at College Health Service “provided the student has a fever over 100 and either a sore throat or a cough.”

Every week, samples from between five and 10 possible student cases are sent out to be tested for H1N1.

Last week, Dartmouth reported 175 cases of ILI, said Harland.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.