There are five confirmed cases of H1N1 from state testing centers on Vanderbilt’s campus, according to Public Affairs Officer Missy Pankake, and 11 are still awaiting confirmation.
The Student Health Center had reported 28 total influenza-like illnesses as of Tuesday, Pankake said. Seniors Stephen Uffelman and Nancy Tan as well as sophomore Arian Flores all said Student Health told them they have a “likely case” of H1N1, the derivative of type-A influenza virus commonly referred to as swine flu.
“They can't test for any strain of flu (at the Student Health Center),” Uffelman said, “but it's not flu season for any other strain and I had all the symptoms.”
Student Health Services sent out a letter to some students living in areas where there are confirmed cases. Mark Bandas, the dean of students, said Vanderbilt is ready for a potential outbreak, referring to emergency plans prepared on the university Web site.
“As has been widely reported in the media, H1N1 has been circulating throughout the U.S. all spring and summer, including in Nashville and the VU community,” Bandas said. “It is not surprising that VU students are included in cases that are seen at VU and in Nashville. … The Student Health Center will continue to work with Vanderbilt’s Emergency Preparedness Team, VUMC and the Tennessee Department of Health to carefully monitor the situation.”
Flores, Uffelman and Tan experienced typical flu symptoms.
“(Symptoms started on) Friday,” Flores said. “Light cough that got worse. I got a lot of chest pain. I started getting a runny nose. All the symptoms of a regular flu. I was suddenly very cold, then hot.”
Uffelman noted the same problem.
Both students believe they got sick as a result of a road trip they were on together before school started.
Pankake said Tuesday the Student Health Center was not overwhelmed with sick patients.
“They're seeing about the normal amount of students for this time of year,” Pankake said.
Flores said he was given Tamiflu, Mucinex D and Tylenol and says he “feels a lot better now than I did.” Uffelman also said he was feeling better.
Tan's fever has gone down significantly, and she said Student Health just gave her non-fever-reducing medicine. Tan had been in different airports all week, trying to get back from Shanghai after travel difficulties. Other members of her trip (college students at other schools) have also said they are sick.
“Other people there were much more miserable than I am,” Tan said. “I'm feeling a little bit better.”
Uffelman noted the potential for the virus to spread quickly.
“If a whole bunch of people already had it, and then came to school, then there's going to be a whole lot more with the flu,” he said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center both have said the groups hope a vaccine will be available to students before the flu season begins in mid to late October.
The CDC classified H1N1 as a contagious disease because of its dangerous tendency to spread from person to person. H1N1 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in June.
Like most universities, Vanderbilt is facing pressure from the CDC to shield its students from H1N1, said Liz Latt, assistant vice chancellor for news and communications at Vanderbilt.
Flores said he was not encouraged to quarantine himself but says he avoided leaving his room. Both students received masks from Student Health.
“They told me that usually they quarantine people like this, but they don't have the facilities, so we should quarantine ourselves,” Uffelman said. “(The Student Health Center) told me to not go out without a mask until my fever went down.”
The administration and Student Health are conducting a joint effort to avoid an outbreak like the one at Mississippi State University. According to information released by the MSU administration, 209 probable cases of H1N1 have been reported there as of Aug. 25.
“There will be more hand sanitizing areas for when you can’t get to soap and water,” Latt said.
Dr. Louise Hanson, medical director of the Student Health Center, has been tasked with educating housekeeping and residential advisers on maintaining a hygienic environment for students. According to Jim Kramka, senior director of Housing Operations, extra measures will be taken by the residential staff to keep communal bathrooms clean and personal cleanliness will be stressed to resist contamination.
Despite these precautions, if students experience a temperature of 100 degrees accompanied by other flu symptoms, Tamiflu can be an effective tool.
“The flu responds well to Tamiflu,” Latt said, “and it is available at the Student Health Center.”
Latt also advises students feeling ill to follow the CDC's advice to remain isolated by staying in their rooms and enlisting a roommate or friend to get medicine and supplies.
— Hannah Twillman, Samantha Smith, Katherine Miller, Michael Brett and Sarah Gillman contributed reporting.
