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H1N1 Flu Continues a Swing through the UI Urbana Campus

 

More than 400 cases of suspected H1N1 flu have been reported on the University of Illinois' campus in Urbana-Champaign so far this semester and more are expected.

Dr. Robert Palinkas of the McKinley Health Center says most of the cases have been relatively mild.

University officials have been asking students with suspected cases of the illness to go home until they're no longer contagious or isolate themselves in their residences. Palinkas says most families of undergraduate students have been heeding that advice, as have many students living independently. "We do trust them to comply, and generally we get pretty good cooperation from an individual when they understand the public health aspect of this," Palinkas said.

Palinkas says students and others who suspect they have the flu should come to the university's health center. He also says they're standing by for word on an H1N1 flu vaccine, which he hopes to make available to students and others in October or November.

(help from The Associated Press)