The World Health Organization raised its alert level for swine flu to the second-most severe Wednesday, signaling an imminent global pandemic, and Indiana has sent 30 cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Associated Press reported.
Dr. Kent Bullis, medical director for Ball State University's Amelia T. Wood Health Center, said three Ball State students are among Indiana's 30 cases sent to the CDC to be tested for human swine influenza A (H1N1).
According to the CDC, the virus had been detected in 91 people in 10 states, killing a toddler in Texas, as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Indiana reported its first case to the CDC on Tuesday with a Notre Dame student, according to the Associated Press.
Bullis said Ball State's three cases were sent as a precaution. Swine seasonal flu have similar symptoms: fevers, coughing, aches and chills, among other common symptoms. The Ball State cases tested positive for influenza A, which could be seasonal flu, Bullis said.
"None of [the flu cases] had any particular risk factors for swine flu," he said. "None of them have been in contact with or have traveled to the places of most concern."
The students most at-risk are those who have fevers higher than 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit and spent Spring Break in Mexico, the virus' epicenter, Bullis said Monday.
The average wait time for the CDC's results take about a week for flu tests, Bullis said, but he received an announcement that the Indiana State Department of Health's laboratories will receive testing kits Friday, which could cut the wait down to one day.
Indiana also will distribute antivirals to county health departments as backup in case medical clinics run short.
The CDC recommends doctors treat swine flu patients with Tamiflu, Ribavirin or Relenza. Bullis said swine flu is more susceptible to those medications than seasonal flu.
He said he's seen a slight increase in patients over the last few days.
"There's not a huge difference, but somewhat more," Bullis said. "... My gut feeling overall is that there's been less concern or fear associated with this than with the avian flu."
Ball State's Counseling Center has also reached out to help students cope with anxiety about the potential pandemic. The office sent an e-mail Wednesday to all students referring some of their concerns to the American Psychological Association's Web site "Managing Your Anxiety about Swine Flu."
June Payne, director of Counseling and Health Services, said the Counseling Center also will meet with students who want to schedule an appointment with a counselor.
"With as much attention as there is being paid to the swine flu, [students] might feel a little bit anxious or worried about whether or not they will contract it, etc.," Payne said.
Concerned students should visit the Web site to keep themselves from panicking, Payne said.
"We have to go on," she said. "Probably best to not allow [panicking] to happen. Talk with people if anxiety is an issue. Everything that I'm hearing, that would indicate that this is not a situation to panic."
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