Colleges show signs of Swine Flu pandemic
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009University 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.
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.
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.
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.

