This fall, students may have more to prepare for than just exams.
It is expected that about 60,000 Floridians will contract the swine flu this flu season, according to Dr. Phillip Barkley, director of student health at UF.
"Right now, all the cases of influenza in the U.S. are H1N1," he said.
Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, has become the sole influenza virus this flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the U.S. has had more than one million cases, Barkley said, adding those in the high-risk category include students under the age of 24.
However, Barkley said this is no cause for chaos.
"Certainly the biggest difference with this particular flu is there is no particular human immunity," he said. "The good thing is the severity of the disease is on the mild side."
Barkley said UF students who had cases of H1N1 were treated over the summer, adding many students are able to take care of themselves.
Barkley said the Student Health Care Center anticipates more cases this year and that vaccines will be available on campus. However, he was unable to specify an exact release date.
According to UF's environmental health and safety Web site, symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
Treatment is as simple as bed rest, fluids and Tylenol, according to the Web site.
Barkley said students are highly advised not to go to class if they are sick.
"Don't affect other people," Barkley said. "Do others a favor."
For those students who do find themselves with flu-like symptoms, a treatment page can be found on the campus Environmental Health and Safety Web site at www.ehs.ufl.edu/h1n1/.
