Flu cases trending downward

Fort Worth, TX

9/3/2009

TCU continues an aggressive and successful educational campaign to inform students, faculty and staff about the importance of practicing good hygiene to prevent the spread of illness.

As a result, the University’s Brown-Lupton Health Center was able to quickly identify and aggressively treat 185 students diagnosed with Influenza Type A. Tarrant County Public Health Department (TCPHD) confirmed six of TCU’s Influenza Type A cases as H1N1. The testing was done in accordance with TCPHD surveillance processes. Two percent of the campus population has been diagnosed with Influenza Type A and the University has maintained operations as usual.

The Influenza Type A cases have been mild with no severe cases and the duration of illness with those diagnosed with Influenza Type A has been approximately two to four days. Based on what has been noted regarding duration of illness, it is likely that of the 185 cases reported approximately three-fourths have already recovered.

In general our campus is healthy but as is typical for this time of year, our Health Center continues to care for students with a variety of illnesses. In the past two weeks, an additional 181 students sought treatment for flu-like symptoms. Many were diagnosed with illnesses ranging from allergies to late summer colds. These illnesses also have been mild, duration has been 2 – 4 days and there were no severe cases.

Further, it is important to note that a diagnosis of Influenza Type A does not verify the presence of H1N1. In accordance with TCPHD and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, TCU does not test for H1N1 unless a student is seriously ill or needs to be hospitalized.

In addition, the University follows TCPHD procedures and treats diagnosed Influenza Type A cases immediately with appropriate medication so as not to delay treatment. TCPHD continues to monitor the situation at TCU and work with administrators as needed.  

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Number of Influenza Type A cases: 185

Number confirmed as H1N1: 6 confirmed positive since start of school;
4 self-reported positive cases over the summer

Number of influenza-like illnesses not diagnosed as Influenza A: 181

Length of illness of those diagnosed with Influenza Type A: 2 – 4 days

Severe cases: 0

Number recovered:  Approximately three-fourths of those diagnosed