Swine flu cases at WSU jump up again

PULLMAN — A large outbreak of swine flu is showing no sign of abating at Washington State University.

School officials had been waiting to see if the incidence of the ailment would ease after the Labor Day long weekend, when the numbers dropped with many students leaving campus for the break. But Health and Wellness Services reported 169 students contacted them Tuesday to report symptoms consistent with swine flu — similar to the daily numbers reported last week.

"We have no evidence yet to indicate if numbers will remain consistent or change," WSU said in a news release.

About 2,600 students have contacted Health and Wellness Services with flu-like symptoms since school began in late August.

While the numbers seem alarming, WSU officials caution that no one has been hospitalized, with most of the victims already recovered and back in class.

Health and Wellness Associate Medical Director Dennis Garcia said officials expect anywhere 5,400 to 9,000 members of the WSU community to be infected with the virus, based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Washington State has about 18,000 students, and several thousand faculty and staff.

Garcia said health officials don't expect the virus to mutate and become a more serious illness. So far, all the cases have been mild, lasting three to five days.

Student Daniel Renz said he is not concerned.

"I'm not worried about going to class," he said. "Until someone dies, I (won't) be worried."

Any person who calls Health and Wellness to report flu-like symptoms is counted as a swine flu case at WSU. People who call are advised to stay home, treat symptoms and drink fluids. Doctors have actually seen only about 500 students, and no one is being tested for swine flu. Under CDC guidelines, university health officials are treating all cases under the assumption that they are H1N1.

Officials at colleges around the nation have been anticipating large numbers of flu cases this fall because swine flu targets young people and thrives in the tight living quarters common on college campuses, said Paula Adams, community coordinator for WSU Health and Wellness Services.

Washington State started classes on Aug. 24, much earlier than most schools.