Flu hitting some colleges harder than others

Flulike illness is hitting Virginia's colleges and universities unevenly, but schools are adopting similar strategies to keep the numbers of sick down.

The flu-case count was still four at Virginia Commonwealth University yesterday, but numbers were swelling at the University of Virginia.

Since the U.Va. fall term began with orientation 10 days ago, 23 students have come down with flulike symptoms, according to case counts posted on the health center's Web site.

"Even if students have to miss a couple of days of classes, the academic mission will continue while we care for the ill students," said Marge Sidebottom, director of emergency preparedness at U.Va.

Sidebottom said provisions are being made to care for students isolated in their rooms. For instance, dining services offers a service allowing an ill student to send his or her identification card and a note with a friend to pick up food.

"This year, they have created a to-go option that includes soup, crackers, Jell-O and juice," she said. Residence hall staff members are organizing "flu buddy" teams using student volunteers to deliver meals to the room of sick students.

"The buddies will also have instruction on safe delivery of the meal to avoid contamination," Sidebottom said.

Case counts were up yesterday at the University of Richmond, said spokesman Brian Eckert. Four students came down with flulike illness last weekend, and several more were reported ill yesterday.

"Parents are very concerned, particularly if they are far away," said Eckert, who helped answer calls to a flu information line set up at the university Monday.

The information-line number was sent to parents, faculty, staff and students. One concern of parents: What happens if their child or their child's roommate gets sick? Some schools are sending sick students home.

The virus still appears to be causing relatively mild illness and is sickening children and young adults more than other groups.

Here's a quick look at the situation at other colleges:

George Mason University, Fairfax: Spokesman Dan Walsch said there were no reported cases. He said there is a "constant flow of information" reminding students to take precautions. The student health center is open daily and has evening hours.

The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg: Spokesman Brian Whitson said no cases of flulike illness had been reported. "We'll continue a number of steps taken last year to reduce the spread of flu — such as additional hand sanitizer dispensers on campus, additional signage in high-traffic locations like the student recreation center." An enhanced Web site being launched this week will have campus-specific H1N1 swine-flu information.

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg: Spokesman Mark Owczarski said as students moved into residence halls they were given "flu-prevention kits" that contained information, tissues and hand sanitizer. There were no reported cases as of yesterday afternoon, he said.

Tammie Smith is a staff writer at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.