This image taken through a microscope shows a negative-stained image of the swine flu virus.
By KOMO Staff & News Services
PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University officials say more than 2,000 students have been sickened by flu-like symptoms in a widespread outbreak on campus that may be swine flu.
But none of the students have required hospitalization, and officials said Saturday's football game between Stanford and Washington State will go on as scheduled.
WSU spokesman James Tinney said 2,000 students have contacted the university's Health and Wellness Services Department, in person or by phone, to report flu-like symptoms since the start of classes last week.
"To extrapolate from that and say we have 2,000 cases of swine flu is probably jumping the gun considerably," he said.
But he added, "There's no question there's an outbreak on campus. The good news is that the course of the disease among most of the students who've gotten it has been relatively brief - three to four days usually."
According to a WSU web site, it is not clear if the number of students with flu has peaked. There were 158 patient contacts on Wednesday, about consistent with other days since school started in late August.
"There is no evidence to predict whether patient flow will increase or decrease," WSU said on its web site.
Normally, the school would see only a handful of patients with influenza-like illness.
School officials said they don't know how many students might have sought care outside the student health system, or how many are caring for themselves without contacting authorities.
Officials said the first few students with symptoms tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus. Since then, testing has stopped and all students with symptoms are being treated as if they have swine flu.
"Everyone is being treated with the supposition that they have H1N1, because the way we treat it is to go home, take fluids, take Tylenol - and if they don't have severe symptoms or aren't in a high-risk group, we just tell them to stay home and be treated at home," Tinney said. "And that's what the Centers for Disease Control has advised us."
Tinney says most students suffer three to five days of discomfort, and symptoms tend to be milder than the seasonal flu. The school is handing out free flu kits including a thermometer, painkillers, throat lozenges, sport drinks, hand sanitizer and tissues.
The university is advising people not to attend Saturday's game if they don't feel well, and to wash their hands often.
"In an open air area like a stadium it's not a real high risk of spreading this virus," Tinney said.
Bill Stevens, a spokesman for the football team, says they will have hand sanitizers at all concession stands, adding that 13 WSU players have shown flu symptoms at some point.
WSU officials are awaiting the arrival of 500 more doses of seasonal flu vaccine. "At this time we are focusing on our student patients and are not providing flu vaccine for WSU employees," the school said.
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But none of the students have required hospitalization, and officials said Saturday's football game between Stanford and Washington State will go on as scheduled.
WSU spokesman James Tinney said 2,000 students have contacted the university's Health and Wellness Services Department, in person or by phone, to report flu-like symptoms since the start of classes last week.
"To extrapolate from that and say we have 2,000 cases of swine flu is probably jumping the gun considerably," he said.
But he added, "There's no question there's an outbreak on campus. The good news is that the course of the disease among most of the students who've gotten it has been relatively brief - three to four days usually."
According to a WSU web site, it is not clear if the number of students with flu has peaked. There were 158 patient contacts on Wednesday, about consistent with other days since school started in late August.
"There is no evidence to predict whether patient flow will increase or decrease," WSU said on its web site.
Normally, the school would see only a handful of patients with influenza-like illness.
School officials said they don't know how many students might have sought care outside the student health system, or how many are caring for themselves without contacting authorities.
Officials said the first few students with symptoms tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus. Since then, testing has stopped and all students with symptoms are being treated as if they have swine flu.
"Everyone is being treated with the supposition that they have H1N1, because the way we treat it is to go home, take fluids, take Tylenol - and if they don't have severe symptoms or aren't in a high-risk group, we just tell them to stay home and be treated at home," Tinney said. "And that's what the Centers for Disease Control has advised us."
Tinney says most students suffer three to five days of discomfort, and symptoms tend to be milder than the seasonal flu. The school is handing out free flu kits including a thermometer, painkillers, throat lozenges, sport drinks, hand sanitizer and tissues.
The university is advising people not to attend Saturday's game if they don't feel well, and to wash their hands often.
"In an open air area like a stadium it's not a real high risk of spreading this virus," Tinney said.
Bill Stevens, a spokesman for the football team, says they will have hand sanitizers at all concession stands, adding that 13 WSU players have shown flu symptoms at some point.
WSU officials are awaiting the arrival of 500 more doses of seasonal flu vaccine. "At this time we are focusing on our student patients and are not providing flu vaccine for WSU employees," the school said.
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