Influenza-like illness on college campuses nationwide increased 34% in the week ending October 23rd. Nearly 9000 new cases and 20 hospitalizations were reported by the 270 colleges and universities that provide data to the American College Health Association. The new cases are generally presumed to be the H1N1 influenza. A resurgence of flu activity was observed in several regions that had previously seen declines, including the Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Dr. James Turner, the president of the American College Health Association and the student health director at UVA, says despite the 56,000 cases this academic year, there only have been 98 hospitalizations and no deaths. Dr. Turner says it indicates the disease remains relatively mild. He says the recent increase in flu-like illness helps reaffirm the importance of vaccination once it becomes available.
