Though only a few more have been verified, there have likely been many more students infected, he said.
The majority of flu cases are the H1N1 strain, known as swine flu, and the SHCC saw about 35 people with some kind of flu or flu-like symptoms last week, he said.
The center does not have the capability to test for the new strain of the flu.
Paul Myers, assistant director of the Alachua County Health Department, said 90 percent or more of all flu cases now are of the H1N1 variety.
Alachua County had 42 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, Myers said.
The state had a total of 2,188 confirmed or probable cases–400 of which were reported in the last week–and 12 deaths. Two of the deaths were reported on Wednesday and two of those who died were pregnant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 37,000 cases and more than 200 deaths in the United States.
The actual number of those affected is probably much higher because most cases go unreported, Myers said.
The average age of those with swine flu is just under 21 years old, he said, with most cases occurring in the 5- to 24-year-old age range. Typically, the flu afflicts those older than 65 and younger than 5, he said.
“That’s odd, but that’s what a novel strain will do,” he said.
One theory is that those older than 50 may be more resistant to the new strain because a similar strain struck in 1957, which may have bolstered their immunity.
Another odd thing about this flu is that it’s striking in the middle of the summer, Myers said, since the flu season usually runs from late fall to early spring.
As a result, Barkley said the SHCC is having to deal with a second flu season this year. On the bright side, it’s milder than usual, he said.
However, since the possibility exists that the center will have to deal with more flu cases in the fall when many students return–and that a swine flu vaccine will be mandated or recommended for college students–the center is preparing itself for a particularly busy semester.
The center does not have the capability to test for the new strain of the flu.
Paul Myers, assistant director of the Alachua County Health Department, said 90 percent or more of all flu cases now are of the H1N1 variety.
Alachua County had 42 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, Myers said.
The state had a total of 2,188 confirmed or probable cases–400 of which were reported in the last week–and 12 deaths. Two of the deaths were reported on Wednesday and two of those who died were pregnant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 37,000 cases and more than 200 deaths in the United States.
The actual number of those affected is probably much higher because most cases go unreported, Myers said.
The average age of those with swine flu is just under 21 years old, he said, with most cases occurring in the 5- to 24-year-old age range. Typically, the flu afflicts those older than 65 and younger than 5, he said.
“That’s odd, but that’s what a novel strain will do,” he said.
One theory is that those older than 50 may be more resistant to the new strain because a similar strain struck in 1957, which may have bolstered their immunity.
Another odd thing about this flu is that it’s striking in the middle of the summer, Myers said, since the flu season usually runs from late fall to early spring.
As a result, Barkley said the SHCC is having to deal with a second flu season this year. On the bright side, it’s milder than usual, he said.
However, since the possibility exists that the center will have to deal with more flu cases in the fall when many students return–and that a swine flu vaccine will be mandated or recommended for college students–the center is preparing itself for a particularly busy semester.
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