Although the flu season may be tapering off in Oxford, those lucky Miami University students who haven't been infected with the influenza (flu) virus are not off the hook yet.
Tammy Gustin, nurse practitioner at Student Health Services (SHS) said this year's flu season for Miami kicked off Jan. 19 and lasted three weeks before finally slowing down. Gustin said there is still a chance for another increase.
"In past times, there have been influxes in March," Gustin said.
Gustin said during the 2007-08 academic year the number of flu cases at Miami was at a higher volume and part of the decrease this year was partly due to the number of flu shots administered to students late fall 2008 at clinics in the Shriver Center.
"We gave around 500 shots to students (in clinics) this year and twice as many as that to employees," Gustin said. "The flu vaccine is very effective this year."
Gustin said SHS saw around 850 students a week during flu season. On an average week, Gustin said SHS will see about 600 students.
Sara Clyburn, clinical laboratory manager at SHS, said 263 flu tests have been administered since January. Of that number, Clyburn said 101 tested positive for either type A or B strains of the flu virus. Clyburn said this low number doesn't reflect the actual number of flu cases on campus.
"A lot of times we don't test someone in order to know they have the flu," Clyburn said. "If someone had the flu and a week later that person's roommate came in, it's very likely that they also have the flu."
Clyburn said in those cases, a flu test is not given.
Despite last year's shortage of the prescription Tamiflu, which lessens the symptoms of the flu virus, Gustin said this year type A influenza was resistant to Tamiflu. Gustin said another medication was used this year, and no shortage was reported.
Outside of Miami, the Oxford community has not seen the same trend in the flu virus.
Karen Miller, director of the emergency department at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital said the hospital hasn't seen many positive flu cases.
"There's a chance it will hit us next month," Miller said.
Eulin Kuranga, McCullough-Hyde infection control specialist, agreed.
"So far we have had approximately 20 positive flu cases coming to the emergency department," Kuranga said. "Those cases include Miami students and community."
Miller said McCullough-Hyde doesn't see Miami students on a regular basis, but students will come in when SHS is closed and if they are experiencing significant pain.
The national flu statistics also don't reflect Miami's trend for this year's flu season.
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) said 2,467 people in the U.S. tested positive for the flu virus from Feb. 1 to Feb. 14 with a continued increase. The same two-week span for the 2007-08 flu season reported 4,466 positive flu tests.
The CDCP report said widespread influenza activity has been reported throughout Ohio since Feb. 1.
Clyburn and Gustin agreed that getting the flu vaccine is very important for Miami students. Clyburn said simply washing one's hands before preparing food and eating is an easy way to lower the chance of catching the flu virus.
