Swine flu declines

The American College Health Association reported Nov. 18 that the number of new cases of the H1N1 flu on college campuses has begun to decline.

The week ending Nov. 13 showed a 27 percent decrease in reported cases from the previous week, suggesting that the swine flu pandemic has peaked. The American College Health Association surveys more than 250 colleges and universities weekly, compiling data from a total of 3 million students. According to these surveys so far, of the 80,000 students who have presented flu symptoms, approximately 150 have had symptoms serious enough to be hospitalized, and there were recently two deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also report that flu activity is decreasing throughout most of the country.

“The CDC predicted that we would have a significant peak early in the H1N1 season and then a second lower peak later on,” said Linda Kirby, medical director at the Student Health Center.

Though the first peak occurred in September, Kirby said she believes the second peak may not have happened yet.

Maureen Lichtveld, professor and chair of the department of environmental health sciences in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, heads the Tulane Flu Emergency Task Force. She said she agrees that the second peak may still occur, expecting H1N1 to peak in the late winter and early spring of next year.

It is difficult to gauge whether the Tulane campus is experiencing a decrease in students showing symptoms of H1N1 since the number of students is only a projection.

The actual number of students who have had the H1N1 flu is unclear since, based on policy from the state of Louisiana, only individuals who are hospitalized with H1N1 are given laboratory tests to confirm the virus, Lichtveld said.

“Though visits to the student health clinic regarding flu symptoms have decreased, this may not mean there is an actual decrease in cases,” Lichtveld said.

Lichtveld said New Orleans may be experiencing a trend different than in other parts of the country as epidemic waves vary by location. 

Kirby said that focus has shifted to the seasonal flu, which can last seven to 10 days, while the H1N1 flu only lasts four to five days.

“Our concern now is the seasonal flu,” Kirby said. “Since the companies that make the seasonal flu vaccine stopped making it and started making the H1N1 vaccine, we have not been able to immunize for seasonal flu.”

Students should be aware that a momentary decrease does not mean the H1N1 pandemic is ending.

“Students must remain vigilant regarding the flu,” Lichtveld said. “They should get vaccinated and follow the advice on the fact sheets and Websites in order to avoid catching H1N1.”

Sophomore Rebecca Decker said she still plans on getting vaccinated for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu.

“Even though not as many people have the flu now as during the beginning of the school year, I still want to protect myself from catching it,” Decker said.

The uptown student health center offers vaccines Tuesday through Thursday, 9 -11 a.m., and Tuesday through Wednesday 1 - 3 p.m. on the ground floor. The downtown student health clinic offers vaccines Monday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.