Nov. 6--Colleges in Tennessee and North Georgia are bracing for a second wave of "influenzalike illnesses" just as campuses are recovering from a fall surge in the flu.
"We are going to see another upswing," said Chris Smith, a nurse practitioner at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. "We are just trying to keep on top of it."
Since Aug. 30, 530 deaths have been attributed to the flu, both H1N1 and seasonal flu, the CDC reports. Although no deaths have been reported in the last few weeks, the flu is widespread nationally on college campuses, according to the American College Health Association.
More than 56,000 college students have reported influenzalike illnesses, and last week alone 9,128 cases were reported nationwide, the association said. The attack rate is 28 cases per 10,000 students, 36 percent higher than the rate two weeks ago.
"Unexpectedly, the resurgence of flu activity has been observed in several regions that had previously seen declines," a statement by the American College Health Association read. "The Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions have all experienced a rebound in disease."
People with symptoms of influenza-like illness no longer are being tested for H1N1, often called swine flu. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that 99 percent of cases involve the H1N1 virus.
For the first time, many colleges and health departments were able to begin offering the H1N1 vaccine this week, and officials are rushing to immunize health care personnel, who then can give the vaccinations to students.
"We are telling students, 'Wash your hands, cover your mouth, don't drink after one another and be careful who you kiss,'" said Chuck Cantrell, a spokesman for UTC.
Ms. Smith at UTC said the H1N1 flu shot will be available to UTC students next week at University Health Services inside the University of Tennessee Family Building on campus.
H1N1 vaccines, in the form of a shot or nasal spray, also are being offered to the public at Tennessee and North Georgia health departments and by private physicians, officials said.
But at the same time, only 43 percent of schools reported having the vaccine on hand, the American College Health Association report shows. College students are being encouraged to protect themselves with smart behavior -- frequent hand washing, avoiding sick people -- because they may not be able to get vaccinated.
"The best hope for reducing the impact of the pandemic on campuses and to prevent further transmission throughout our communities is to achieve higher rates of vaccination," said Dr. James C. Turner, president of the American College Health Association.
Local health department officials have encouraged private physicians to order the H1N1 vaccine through the state health department, especially obstetricians and pediatricians, said Jennifer Yim, a public information officer at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department.
Some private physicians already are immunizing patients, but many are waiting to receive their shipments of the vaccine, she said. Retailers such as Walgreens and CVS will offer the vaccine once there no longer is a shortage, she said.
Ms. Yim would not release the names of private physicians offering the H1N1 vaccine, but she said people should call their doctors to see if it is available.
"Eventually, the vaccine will be available to everyone and anyone who wants it," she said.
Educating students about how to prevent H1N1 is a major initiative on college campuses, said Todd Bullard, director of sports medicine at UTC.
UTC personnel have placed literature about the flu and posters everywhere from locker rooms to classroom buildings. Otherwise, everything is business as usual.
"We clean like madhouses anyway," Mr. Bullard said. "It's a big educational push at this point. We tell them how to sneeze and dress when they are sick."
Jodi Johnson, vice president for enrollment and student services at Dalton State College in Dalton, Ga., said school officials have not seen a serious uptick in influenzalike illnesses. So far, no students living in the college's on-campus apartments have reported flu symptoms, and professors are not reporting absentee rates of more than 15 percent, she said.
Still, Ms. Johnson said, officials are preparing for another wave.
More than 100 students, faculty and staff at Dalton State have received the seasonal flu vaccine, and this week the local health department offered the H1N1 vaccine for the first time.
Resident assistants on campus plan to move sick students to isolated, empty apartments to prevent the illness from spreading, she said, and the school also has prepared "pandemic survival kits."
"We will give them bottled water, canned soup, clean towels and disposable paper goods to make it through the first couple of days," Ms. Johnson said.
FLU INFO
Hamilton: Health department, 921 E. Third St., Chattanooga. H1N1 flu shots to pregnant women, people ages 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions, caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, health care personnel and people age 6 months to 24 years of age. Intranasal "FluMist" available to others. No appointments for seasonal flu vaccine.
Bradley: Health department, 201 Doley St., Cleveland. H1N1 flu shots and intranasal "FluMist." 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this week. No seasonal flu shots.
Sequatchie: Health department, 170 Church St., Dunlap. H1N1 flu shots to pregnant women, people ages 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions, caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, health care personnel and people age 6 months to 24 years of age. Intranasal "FluMist" available for others. No appointments for seasonal flu vaccine.
Meigs: Health department, 389 River Road, Decatur. H1N1 flu shots to pregnant women, people ages 25 to 64 with chronic medical conditions, caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, health care personnel and people age 6 months to 24 years of age. Intranasal "FluMist" available for others. No appointments for seasonal flu vaccine.
Catoosa: Health department, 145 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold. 1,000 H1N1 flu shots. Walk-in basis. High-risk individuals on Thursday. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 200 doses of intranasal "FluMist" vaccine available for healthy people ages 2 to 49.
Walker: Health department, 603 Villanow St., LaFayette. 1,800 H1N1 flu shots. Appointment only, available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. No seasonal flu shots.
Dade: Health department, 71 Case Ave., Suite H-100, Trenton. 600 H1N1 flu shots. Walk-in basis. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. No seasonal flu shots, but seasonal flu intranasal "FluMist" available for qualified children.
Source: Health departments
FLU BY THE NUMBERS
--22 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week nationally
--56,000 cases on college campuses
--8,861 new cases were reported on college campuses
--100 cases at UTC since August
Source: UTC, American College Health Association
PREVENTING THE FLU
--Get vaccinated.
--Stop germs: Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze; wash hands often with soap and water; stay away from people who are sick; stay home from work or school if you get the flu and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
--If your doctor prescribes them, take antiviral drugs within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FLU SYMPTOMS
Fever
Headache
Extreme fatigue
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Diarrhea and vomiting
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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