As flu season approaches some are stressing over the pandemic known as H1N1 influenza, otherwise called the swine flu.

Nightly, the news has been reporting stories of the spread of H1N1 and the talk of the infection rate but no one has really discussed what exactly are the facts of this strain. “What is it?” and, “where did it come from?” are the most common themes of people who are asking the questions.

“We’re not really able to say for certain where it came from but we have some ideas on that,” said David Daigle, deputy director media relations at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

How it came to be named, “swine flu” is a result of initial studies of the strain that found similarities in its makeup to influenza found commonly in pigs. Health officials however say that pigs are not the direct cause of the pandemic.

Most experts hypothesize that most likely what has happened is the cross breeding of influenza strains from Asia, Europe and North America. In most scenarios, a traveling person from somewhere in Asia comes to the United States or some other country in North America carrying a local influenza strain and comes into contact with someone carrying a European strain which then mixes in with the local influenza virus strains. This type of pandemic spread is not out of the realm of reasonable worry according to experts.

“The spread of pandemic disease is always a serious concern for us,” said Daigle.

In particular, the spread of this new strain has taken root in the age group of five to 24 years old. These results coupled with the low or no resistance to the new strain that the infected have been displaying have many authorities concerned. Reported numbers now show that roughly one-million cases of H1N1 have been recorded throughout the United States with two deaths in Kansas. So far the strain of influenza has not mutated and medical officials have begun the development of a vaccine to combat the spread of the outbreak. Now this all sounds bad in an abstract kind of way but what does it mean for students on campuses throughout the United States and Washburn in particular?

The student health department which has been seeing an increased amount of cold like symptoms and suspected flu cases, has responded by doing batch testing for H1N1 and getting Washburn onto the list as a possible site for the vaccinations of H1N1 medicine that are currently under development. The university has also been sending out e-mails with links to videos and other literature that relate to information about the pandemic.

Washburn, through the Living Learning Center has also taken steps to participate in a self isolation program where students who are sick with influenza would be kept in their rooms and would be assisted by a single person to help limit contact and spread of the influenza strain on campus. Student health is also preparing by having the needed testing and treatment supplies available as well. Of concern though is what student health department staff has termed as, “being understaffed.”

So what should Washburn student and faculty do if they get sick and think it might be H1N1? The first thing that most experts say is to stay away from large gatherings of people. Symptoms of infected could look similar to seasonal flu but will be more immediate and severe. Doctors emphasize the need to seek medical attention if the symptoms are accompanied by a spike in temperature as well. Remaining vigilant against the spread of pandemic flu is a concern until the vaccine that is under development becomes available to health professionals. where students who are sick with influenza would be kept in their rooms and would be assisted by a single person to help limit contact and spread of the influenza strain on campus. Student health is also preparing by having the needed testing and treatment supplies available. Of concern, though, is what student health department staff has termed as, “being understaffed.”

So what should Washburn student and faculty do if they get sick and think it might be H1N1? The first thing that most experts say is to stay away from large gatherings of people. Symptoms of infected could look similar to seasonal flu but will be more immediate and severe. Doctors emphasize the need to seek medical attention if the symptoms are accompanied by a spike in temperature as well. Remaining vigilant against the spread of pandemic flu is a concern until the vaccine that is under development becomes available to health professionals.