COLUMBIA — As of Friday, 48 students had reported flu-like symptoms at MU, pointing to what MU spokesman Christian Basi said "probably is" the H1N1 virus. The cases have not been confirmed but are likely to be H1N1 because it's the only flu strain currently circulating.
"The university is not requiring testing at this stage because it is too early in the season for the seasonal flu," Basi said. "As we have learned from the CDC, we are assuming anyone showing flu-like symptoms at this point has the H1N1 virus."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of the H1N1 virus are similar to seasonal influenza.
Epidemiologist Eddie Hedrick, emerging infections coordinator for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said people who are having flu-like symptoms are most likely being affected by the H1N1 strain, according to previous Missourian reporting.
The 48 students include those who either called or went to the Student Health Center. In an e-mail to students Monday afternoon, Chancellor Brady Deaton confirmed that the virus is "present" on campus and offered guidelines for dealing with the virus.
"Do not go to class," the e-mail advises in upper-case lettering. Students who show flu-like symptoms are advised to call the Student Health Center for consultation or to schedule an appointment.
"This enables timely and efficient care to be provided to those in need and minimizes the spread of influenza to others," Deaton said in the e-mail.
He advised sick students to notify their professors of the illness and to return to class when their temperature has been less than 100 degrees for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Faculty Council Vice Chairman Bill Wiebold said students are strongly encouraged not to come to class if they're showing any signs of a fever, cough, muscle aches or other flu-like symptoms.
"If they are ill, they need to stay away from class," he said.
Provost Brian Foster sent an e-mail to faculty members Monday evening that gave tips to guide them through the flu outbreak. Foster told faculty to create a coverage plan for a situation in which they could not teach their classes; to be lenient with their attendance policies; to consider alternative assignments and deadlines; and to consider alternative content delivery systems for students who miss class, such as Blackboard and others found at the ET@Mo Web site.
On Thursday, the Faculty Council discussed the implications of H1N1 for their classes. Wiebold said he relayed information to the council about preparedness for the spread of the virus.
"As faculty, we need to be prepared for the possibility of increased absence in our classes," he said. "This is a unique experience that we may have this year. We need to be flexible when these absences occur."
A number of MU students were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus this summer. It was confirmed in May that graduate student Xueyang Bao, 30, had swine flu before he left campus for his wedding in China, and four of 40 students who traveled to South Korea in July to teach English were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. The entire group was quarantined.
Outside of the immediate reaction on campus, MU and health officials are seeking ways to prevent a spread of the virus.
MU plans to offer free vaccinations for students for the H1N1 virus, but the vaccine won't be ready until at least mid- to late October, Basi said.
Students are encouraged to avoid contact with others. Residential Life staff will check on students and work with them to help isolate them as much as possible, Basi said.
Students showing symptoms are also advised to avoid dining halls and other common areas. They can order a meal from Campus Dining Services through their community adviser, CDS marketing manager Andrew Lough said. The student can request a meal to be prepared based on that day's menu, and the community adviser can pick it up with the student's ID number.
For more information and updates, students can go to MU Alert or Ask Dr. C on MU's Web site. Dr. C. is Michael Cooperstock, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Immunology and Rheumatology in the Department of Child Health. The Dr. C site answers frequently asked questions about H1N1 flu and other issues.