As the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, looms in the minds of UF students, faculty and staff, the number of infected UF students continues to rise, according to the UF Student Health Care Center.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in a press release Tuesday that a vaccine for the virus has been approved and is expected to be distributed within the next four weeks.
Student Health Care Center director Dr. Phillip Barkley said UF will offer H1N1 vaccines sometime in October.
Barkley said the majority of students coming to the Student Health Care Center with flu-like symptoms have the H1N1 virus.
The center had 154 students visit the clinic last week with symptoms of the flu, and the number continues to rise each week, Barkley said.
"Cases of the flu have increased significantly," he said. "If someone has the flu, more than likely they have H1N1."
Influenza, especially the H1N1 flu, often causes upper respiratory problems, a high fever and stomach-related problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea, Barkley explained.
Despite the rise in student visits to the health center, the increase still doesn't give them an idea of how many UF students will contract the disease.
The center projected about 25 percent of students would get the flu within eight weeks, but the percentage is a "best guess," Barkley said.
Because college-aged students are not at a high risk like younger and older generations, most students should still be OK, he added.
"If [students] have no previous medical complications, there is a very low risk of complications," he said. "People have done well managing it on their own. The severity level is usually mild."
The Student Health Care Center will also conduct a survey of about 1,500 students later in the semester to get a better idea of how many students have had the H1N1 virus, Barkley said. Students will receive a notification about the survey via e-mail.
Barkley said students who think they have the flu should avoid being in public areas and do their own research on the H1N1.
