The University and the University Medical Center have seen multiple cases of the H1N1 influenza virus - popularly known as swine flu - since May.\nThe virus originally broke out among campers at University's summer enrichment program at the Education School, as well as during University programs for entering students, University spokesperson Carol Wood said.\nWhile it is "impossible to know how many campers contracted the flu ... our feeling was that it was minimal," Wood said.\nWhen children became infected with what is believed to be the swine flu during the end of the first session of summer enrichment camp, the sick campers were sent home and letters were sent to parents about the small outbreak, Wood said.\nWhen the next session began, Wood said the head of the camp met with all of the parents dropping off their children and reviewed protocols about what to do if their campers were not feeling well.\nIn spite of the precautions, Woods said that she "did not think parents were surprised" by the swine flu occurrences, noting that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently downgraded the swine flu to a "seasonal flu."\n"I think they were glad to be communicated with in a timely basis," Wood said.\nThe counselors also helped by making sure campers washed their hands and reported any flu-like symptoms, she said.\nShe added that all the campers who experienced flu-like symptoms returned home and recovered.\nOther cases of swine flu affecting the University community during the summer included 12 University Health System employees who tested positive for H1N1, hospital spokesperson Sally Jones said.\n"With the exception of one case of transmission from one employee to another, all [hospital workers] contracted the virus out in the community," Jones said.\nThe hospital required employees with the confirmed virus to stay home for seven days from the onset of symptoms. Those suspected of carrying the virus are required to stay home until they have been tested and receive results, Jones said.\nAs an added measure, employee health officials also compiled a list of people who had direct contact with any employee with a confirmed case of the virus. Those in contact were administered Tamiflu, a flu prevention and treatment medicine, as a precautionary measure.\n"We've been very diligent in making sure our employees take the necessary steps of preventing the swine flu," Jones said. "With thousands and thousands of employees and only 12 infected shows that we've done a good job of that."\nJones emphasized that all employees also are required to follow proper hand hygiene procedures to prevent further spreading.\nJones added that all 12 hospital employees who contracted the flu are "all back at work and they're fine."\nAsst. Hospital Epidemiologist Kyle Enfield said the best way "to prevent the spread of flu is for everyone to wash their hands and cover their noses and mouths when they sneeze and cough." Enfield also recommended that anyone who has flu-like symptoms to seek medical attention and avoid public contact.\nEnfield listed symptoms as fever, runny nose, watery eyes, cough, sore throat, and body aches and pains, as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, although those symptoms are less common.\nWood similarly emphasized "cold and cough etiquette" in order to prevent the spread of the flu among students this upcoming fall and added that the normal flu vaccine will be offered in September and an H1N1 vaccine will be offered for students between 19 and 24 years of age, hospital workers, pregnant women, and people with severe health conditions in either October or November.\nThe University also is in the process of reminding students to stay healthy by placing 10,000 stickers in restrooms across Grounds, Wood said. These stickers urge students to wash their hands, cover their mouths and report any flu-like symptoms to Student Health.
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