SYRACUSE -- It was a quiet day Tuesday on the Le Moyne College campus. Students are still on break but they're set to return in less than a week. Health officials at the college are ready if the students come back the next wave of swine flu hits.
Julie Doody, Nurse Administrator at the Le Moyne College Wellness Center for Health and Counseling said, "We've ordered vaccine to protect the students who haven't received the vaccine yet and we've ordered extra supplies, cough drops, masks, to distribute to the dorms and to the students if they come here to the health center."
In the fall, they vaccinated about 400 people. Now they're waiting on 100 to 200 more doses of the H1N1 vaccine for the spring semester. College campuses have been particularly susceptible to flu because of the close quarters where students live and go to class. In the fall, folks at LeMoyne estimate at least 200 students were sick with the swine flu. Also, the regular flu season hasn't even peaked just yet.
"It's going to be hard to tell if it's the seasonal flu and the swine flu. Its anybody's guess, but we are expecting more flu," said Doody."
The county health commissioner, Dr. Cynthia Morrow says the best way to head off a possible third wave of the swine flu is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, especially college students.
Dr. Morrow said, "I don't know what is going to happen when students come back to college campuses. It's reasonable to think that we'll see more disease activity but its just too hard to predict."
Dr. Morrow says when schools went back in session in the fall, there was a dramatic increase in illness so it could happen again when students return from break. At LeMoyne, they've got all their supplies and they're ready to battle the illness.
At Syracuse University, they're continuing their efforts to fight the flu even before the students get back to campus. The university a funny yet fact-filled video ready for students when they do return next week. It tells them how to prevent getting the flu and what to do if they become sick.
Kevin Morrow, University Spokesman, said, "All we can do is best prepare our students to keep them safe and take preventative measures against the flu."
In the fall when students returned to college campuses, illness dramatically increased because of the close living quarters and small classrooms. On the SU Hill, they treated more than 500 students for flu-like illnesses. There is concern more people could get sick because a third wave of swine flu is expected to hit.
At SU, they vaccinated 1,500 students against the H1N1 virus last fall. They're planning to hold more clinics once classes begin.
County health commissioner Dr. Cynthia Morrow says people should use this lull in flu activity to get their vaccinations.
"I don't know weather we are going to have third wave. I do know the higher or vaccination rates are the better off we are as a community," said Morrow.
For the folks at SU, they hope to keep their students health with a little humor and a lot of useful information.
Links to area county flu clinics:
Onondaga: https://www.onflu.net/onondaga/
Madison: www.healthymadisoncounty.org/MadisonHD/events/index.html
Oswego: https://www.onflu.net/oswego/
Jefferson: www.co.jefferson.ny.us/Jefflive.nsf/Flu_Finder#home_0_0_0
Cayuga: www.co.cayuga.ny.us/hhs/doh/index.htm
Seneca: www.co.seneca.ny.us/newsfiles/H1N1%20and%20Seasonal%20By%20Appt%20January%20and%20Febdoc.pdf
Cortland: www.cortland-co.org/cortland_county_h1n1_flu_clinic.htm
Tompkins: www.tompkins-co.org/health/h1n1/update_2010-01-06.htm
