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CU-Boulder IDs 8 probable swine flu cases

Associated Press
Boulder, CO Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. – Officials at the University of Colorado in Boulder say eight students might have the swine flu and they’re urging people to take precautions as more students, staff and faculty return for the new school year.

Officials say the students have tested positive for influenza A, of which swine flu is a substrain. University spokesman Bronson Hilliard said Friday that the school is treating the cases as though they are swine flu.

None of the students has been hospitalized. Hilliard said the state health departments run tests only if someone is hospitalized.



The school isn’t canceling any classes or events, but is working with Boulder County health officials to monitor the situation. Some of the eight students live on campus.

Hilliard said a big concern is people considered especially vulnerable to the swine flu, including pregnant women, people with diabetes and asthma and people whose immune systems are weak.

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Federal health officials have said colleges and universities don’t have to have separate arrangements for sick students. Hilliard said CU doesn’t have the facilities to do that and is urging students who get to sick to isolate themselves, avoiding other people and classes, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The university has been gearing up for the start of classes amid concerns about swine flu. Hilliard said the school sent letters home to parents and students, have discussed swine flu during orientations, e-mailed staff and faculty members and have distributed information around campus.

In July, at least 67 freshmen cadets attending training at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs were diagnosed with swine flu. They stayed in a dorm apart from the other cadets.

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On the Net: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for institutions of higher education are posted at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/guidance/.


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