Swine-flu cases increase in Virginia

SWINE FLU

Virginia has more than 240 laboratory-confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu, but the true number of those sickened by the virus is probably many times that.

Four students at Virginia Commonwealth University were on the sick list last week after getting flu-like symptoms; officials at the College of William and Mary were taking precautions after several participants in a youth summer-enrichment program were diagnosed with the flu.

Two of the four at VCU were out of isolation yesterday, spokeswoman Pamela D. Lepley said yesterday. "They were very mild cases." Lepley said three students were isolated in dorm rooms, while a fourth went home.

No additional cases were reported by the student health center as of yesterday. Tests confirmed the four students had influenza A, but further testing was not done to determine if it was the H1N1 swine flu.

Across the state, flu is still widespread, and health officials believe most of the flu circulating is the H1N1 swine flu. For now, treatment is the same as for seasonal flu, so public-health officials are doing confirmatory tests only in certain situations.

A W&M official yesterday notified the college community that three visitors -- two counselors and a student -- who had been on campus last week as part of a summer youth-enrichment program had tested positive for influenza A.

"They are now home recovering. We have no indication influenza has spread to anyone on campus or other visitors," Anna B. Martin, vice president for administration, said in an e-mail.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the reported cases of flu are probably just the "tip of the iceberg."

While the CDC is reporting 27,717 cases, agency experts say as many as 1 million people may have gotten the infection. Many would have gotten mild symptoms.

Unlike seasonal flu, which usually makes older people sicker, the new virus seems to be hitting younger people the hardest.

According to the CDC, 80 percent of swine-flu hospitalizations have been for people younger than 50.

State health officials yesterday issued advice to summer camp operators. One suggestion was to consider screening all newly arrived children, staff and volunteers for flu symptoms.

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