University of Alabama

University of Alabama officials say 54 cases of influenza were reported on the first day of school.

John Maxwell of the Student Health Center says most of the cases are likely the swine flu and says health officials believe the outbreak started with sorority rush last week.

Anderson University (S.C.)

Two students at Anderson University have tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, the school confirmed Tuesday. H1N1 was formerly known as swine flu.

The positive tests came back Friday, according Barry Ray, the school’s director of marketing and communication. “They tested positive for the five-day flu, which is an 80 percent chance the illness is H1N1,” Ray said. Conclusive results won’t be back for a few more days, he said.

Carnegie Mellon University

Eighteen suspected cases of H1N1 influenza have prompted Carnegie Mellon University to take action to reduce exposures and prevent a full-fledged outbreak.

In a university e-mail yesterday, officials said 18 students have contacted Student Health Services about having flu-like illness.

Classes will continue.

Penn State University

Eight new cases of swine flu were confirmed at Carnegie Mellon University yesterday, bringing the total to 26 students with H1N1 influenza, and the number is expected to climb.

Penn State University also confirmed several cases, while other local universities reported no problems to date.

Mississippi State University has a great page on its site devoted to pandemic flu, Swine Flu, novel H1N1. It’s difficult to tell which name ought to be used, but the MSU folks are on top of their situation. As of Friday they report 136 cases on campus.

Mississippi is at the heart of a significant outbreak, with at least 508 cases in public schools. During the spring outbreak, Mississippi lagged the nation until late May and June. It looks like it may lead the nation, at least until the larger states open their schools. Mississippi’s schools were among the first in the nation to open for fall. It follows that Swine Flu will be more active there.

Mississippi – 150 cases reported in 19 districts as of August 11

Boyle county, Kentucky

Numerous absences because of flu-like illness prompted the Boyle County school district to cancel classes for the rest of this week at Junction City Elementary School, Superintendent Mike LaFavers said.

Health authorities are assuming that the cases are H1N1 swine flu.

Junction City Elementary has 353 students.

Grand Bay, Alabama

Sick children are being sent home left and right from one Mobile County Middle School. All of this coming on the heels of a confirmed case of Swine Flu. The school system is encouraging everyone, to safeguard yourself by washing your hands. Parents are also asked to keep sick students home.

Camden county, Georgia

Several students at Camden County Middle School were sent home today, because of flu-like symptoms.

School nurses say students were experiencing fevers (100 degrees or higher), lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Other symptoms of influenza including the swine virus can also include runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Marshall county, Kentucky

It did not take long for one Heartland school district to come face to face with H1N1 also known as the Swine Flu. Just days into a new school year, the Marshall County School District has two confirmed cases of the flu.

The school district received word from the Marshall County Health department Friday afternoon. While the Marshall County Superintendent says he expected to see the illness at some point this school year. He says they did not expect to see students getting sick already.

Much more at the link.

The costs of pupil absenteeism nationwide will vary by district. As of 2007, there are over 13,800 school districts in the United States and 275 that have 25,000 or more pupils like the Rochester City School District. Those districts account for 16.5 million students. With an average of 3 days lost, and a Swine Flu infection rate of 25-33%, these schools will lose 12.4 to 16.3 million pupil days. That may mean lost revenues to those districts alone in excess of a half billion dollars or more.

Examiner

The news is beginning to report scattered cases of swine flu, pandemic flu, novel H1N1 in various states where schools have opened for the fall.

Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, California – 8 cases

As of Tuesday, August 11, it has been confirmed that seven Granite Bay High School students have contracted the H1N1 strain of flu (also known as the Swine flu). In addition we are aware of about a dozen students who have been kept home or have been sent home due to feeling ill with flu-like symptoms. It is important to note that we have students who have the flu that has been confirmed to NOT be the H1N1 strain.

After eight of their classmates came down with confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, students at Granite Bay High were taking swine-flu fears in stride this week – but with plenty of precaution mixed in for good measure.

“I have like, 12 of those little hand wipes in my backpack,” said Kevin Ranger, a junior.

All of the affected Granite Bay students had mild cases and were expected to make a full recovery, said Steve Williams, the district’s pupil personnel director. One other confirmed case was reported this week at Antelope High School, he said.

“Some of these kids have already begun to make their way back, but we’re keeping more or less a running tally,” Williams said.

It wasn’t clear whether the outbreak of the novel flu form was ramping up or on its way out. Officials say they think the first cases originated at a band camp before school started on Monday. It’s since spread to students who weren’t among the 130 at the event.

About 39 other students at Granite Bay were at home with flu-like symptoms on Thursday, including a fever, cough and sore throat, officials said, but they cautioned those were not confirmed cases of H1N1. The school was communicating with families through phone calls, letters and its Web site, at www.granitebayhigh.org.

Roseville Press Tribune

Hilsman Middle School, Athens, Georgia – 1 case

A Hilsman Middle School student was diagnosed with H1N1 swine flu over the weekend – the first reported case of swine flu among Athens public school students, a Clarke County School District spokeswoman said.

The student’s parents notified a teacher at the Eastside school Sunday, school district spokeswoman Anisa Sullivan Jimenez said Wednesday.

“The parents knew to follow protocol and not bring the child to school on Monday,” Jimenez said.

Athens Banner-Herald

Lee County, Mississippi – unk number of cases

Asheville, NC – 1 to 3 cases, plus cases in local college

Meanwhile, two students at Roberson High School were diagnosed with H1N1 following a soccer camp late last month.

A football player at Erwin High School also was suspected to have swine flu Monday, though the case was not confirmed as of Tuesday, Buncombe County schools spokeswoman Jan Blunt said. Letters were sent home to parents about swine flu showing up in student athletes, including tips for safe hygiene.