New York regions defined by NYS Dept of Health

Swine flu continues to spread in New York State. Data compiled by the NYS Department of Health suggests that this fall’s wave of pandemic flu will be larger and affect more people than the spring wave did.

The graph above illustrates the numbers for Flu-like Illness in NYS hospital emergency departments as percentage of total emergency department visits, by Region (3 month snapshot). FLI is the primary indicator being used in NYS, and all of the testing being done demonstrates that pandemic Swine Flu is the overwhelming influenza virus making people sick.

In New York City, the situation seems to be different at this point. After large numbers of Swine Flu cases this past spring, the indicators for the illness are well within normal expectations for this time of year.

For the rest of this article, please visit the Rochester Infectious Disease Examiner.

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.

With instructional videos. Much more at the link.

The Swine Flu, or novel H1N1, or pandemic H1N1 is beginning to be seen in increasing numbers of patients as the new school year begins in the United States. While about a dozen states have schools open at this time, states such as New York have time to prepare. People in Rochester and Monroe County, N.Y., should take the opportunity in order to be ready for September and October.

The Swine Flu is a virus. It is spread from person to person due to poor hygiene practices by infected patients and by inadequate cleaning.

Examiner