Up to 200 UI students presumed to have H1N1 flu

Up to 200 University of Iowa students have reported flu symptoms, which could be the H1N1 virus.

Spokesman Tom Moore said the assumption is that influenza-like symptoms that occur before regular flu season would be H1N1, commonly called swine flu.

Tests are not conducted to verify the strain because the illnesses are treated the same, he said.

The illnesses were reported since last week, with symptoms including fever above 100 degrees, coughs, sneezing, sore throat, body aches and chills. Some report vomiting and diarrhea.

Moore said none of the students have been hospitalized and some are already back in class.

Students are advised to self-isolate in their rooms and can order food to be brought to their dorm rooms.

They also can receive kits with hand sanitizer, face masks and other items, and healthy roommates can temporarily move, if requested.

College campuses are expected to be hard-hit by the flu this fall because of shared student living quarters, bathrooms and dining halls.

About 2,500 students at Washington State University have reported flu-like symptoms.

Numbers are rising daily at Luther College in Decorah, where 57 students and two staff members have reported flu-like illnesses in the past week, spokesman Jerry Johnson said.

“It's very contagious,” he said. “I'm sure this will increase in the weeks ahead.”

No events or classes have been canceled at the UI or Luther.

Johnson said some healthy students worried about catching the flu are going home for the weekend.

Health experts offer the same advice for H1N1 as other strains of flu: wash hands frequently with soap and water; cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your elbow and stay home if you are sick.