42 at UR treated for flulike illnesses

U.S. flu map | SPECIAL REPORT: Swine Flu

Forty-two University of Richmond students have been treated for flulike illness since fall classes began, but new cases slowed as the week ended.

The H1N1 swine flu has caused a surge in illnesses on college campuses. With K-12 schools starting in just a few days in many places, a similar upswing there is feared.

"As health officials tell us, this is similar to seasonal flu, and the numbers go up and down," said UR spokesman Brian Eckert. "We expect to see more cases."

The University of Virginia reported at least 27 suspected cases, and Virginia Tech had about three, a spokesman said. At George Mason University, a spokesman said, "Only three to five students have said they were not feeling well."

A Virginia Commonwealth University student-health official said five students have been treated for flu symptoms.

"What we are trying to do is get them to go home until their self-isolation period ends," said Dr. Margaret Roberson, VCU director of student-health services.

The new influenza virus surfaced this year in Mexico and has spread globally. While the virus spreads easily, it has been causing relatively mild illness in most people. Still, because it is a new strain, it's making a lot of people sick.

Also worrisome is that the virus seems to be making children and young adults sick more than other age groups.

Eckert, at UR, said specimens from two students obtained at the request of public health officials confirmed H1N1 swine flu. Health officials are not routinely testing people to diagnose flu unless a person is hospitalized or unless there are clusters of cases.

Federal health officials hope to have swine-flu vaccine available by the middle of October. Clinical trials are testing candidate vaccines for safety, effectiveness or both.

Doctors at VCU next week will start enrolling healthy children ages 3 to 8 and adults older than 65 in a study testing different doses of a candidate vaccine.

"Patients will not know what [dose] they receive," said Dr. Linda Meloy, an associate professor of pediatrics at the VCU Medical Center. "There is no placebo. Everyone will receive a different dose."

The vaccine is an adjuvanted form, containing a substance that boosts the body's immune response. That allows the core ingredient to be stretched to make more vaccine or for people to need only one dose to get immunity.

Meloy said VCU has been allotted several hundred doses of the study vaccine but will get more or less depending on how quickly people enroll.

People will be followed for a year by phone and through in-person visits. People getting a seasonal-flu shot will need to adjust the timing to get it at least seven days before or after they get the study vaccine.

To learn more about the study, call (804) 628-0100.

Contact Tammie Smith at (804) 649-6572 or .