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Colleges Open Their Doors—to Swine Flu

Campus is 'a perfect breeding ground for disease'

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 31, 2009 1:11 PM CDT

(Newser) – Colleges all over the country are welcoming back students—and dealing with an uninvited visitor: swine flu, Bloomberg reports. From the South to the Plains states, schools are reporting hundreds of cases—at Mississippi State University, more than 250 people have flu-like symptoms. “Envision 200 young people being stuffed into the basement of a smoky fraternity,” an official says. “What a perfect breeding ground for disease.”

The demonstrated threat can’t change the fact that those of college age are the group least likely to seek a flu shot. They “don’t think flu is a serious disease,” a college health official says, “so they don’t need to be vaccinated from it.” To counter the blasé attitude, schools are mounting awareness campaigns and even providing drive-through shots—“pull up, get your shot and keep going”—while the CDC plans Internet ads to hammer the point home.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Students walk on the campus of historical Morehouse College in Atlanta Ga. (AP Photo)

A nurse drawing H1N1 flu vaccine into a syringe to administer to volunteer participants during first of several clinical trials conducted by Emory University in Atlanta. (AP Photo)

Students walk at the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Multiple confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported at the private university. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes, File)

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Hi, it’s H1N1 flu, and I’m here to ruin everything. You know that date you had planned for Saturday night? Ruined! You know that trip you were going to take? Ruined! - CDC awareness ad

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

alicia

Aug 31, 2009 9:36 AM CDT

i had it, the only thing that happened to me, is my child was born 4 weeks early and had to be put on antibotics to make sure he didn't get sick, because just like the reg flu it affects the sick, the old, the young, and sometimes the in between.

alicia

Aug 31, 2009 9:34 AM CDT

dude chill, my kids dr said it is no worse then the reg flu. the gov is once again using fear tatics, for what, we will have to wait and see. last time our fears were played with we invaded iraq. I think this time it may be more incent, like being for or agianst the new health bill

inky

Aug 31, 2009 7:47 AM CDT

I think I have it right now but am not among "at risk" populations. It feels like your basic summer head cold/upper respiratory virus. I guess this is one way to avoid getting a shot; get the virus first!

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Health • US

vaccination • university • college student • pandemic • swine flu • H1N1 virus • young people

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Colleges Open Their Doors—to Swine Flu