The number of students contacting University Health Services (UHS) about flu-like symptoms decreased in week 3 of the semester. In the week of Sept. 13–19, UHS evaluated 168 students for influenza-like illness (ILI). ILI visits made up 12.6 percent of the total visits to the primary care clinic for the week.
In the previous week, ILI visits represented 28 percent of all primary care visits, and UHS evaluated 345 students with flu-like symptoms.
“It is much too early to pronounce the outbreak over,” says Sarah Van Orman, M.D., executive director of University Health Services. “However, the students of this campus should be commended for taking steps to try to limit the spread of disease.”
“By going home, or staying home, when they’re sick, students are putting the campus community first, and we really appreciate the way they’re responding to this challenge.”
UHS first began seeing an increase in influenza-like illness on Tuesday, Sept. 1, the day before the start of classes. The unusual number of cases has been attributed to the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, which is known to be extremely infectious to young adults.
No hospitalizations of students with ILI have been reported to UHS.
Students who need urgent medical advice may contact UHS at (608) 265-5600. Students with “high-risk” medical conditions should promptly call UHS or another healthcare provider if they develop flu-like symptoms.