An additional four Dartmouth students previously suspected to have swine flu have tested negative for the H1N1 virus, according to director of College Health Services Jack Turco. The College is relaxing its swine flu policies in light of recent developments, he said. There are now no confirmed or "probable" cases of swine flu involving Dartmouth students.
The new negative results were returned from the state laboratory in Concord more quickly than expected, Turco said. He speculated that the recent "deluge" of tests from across the state has forced the lab to increase its capacity and dedicate more people to testing for the virus.
Results are still pending for one more student who first visited Dick's House on Monday night, Turco said. The student is the eighth undergraduate who has been suspected to have swine flu.
New information about the progression of the disease makes it less necessary to test patients for swine flu if they appear ill, he said. Because swine flu does not appear to be more serious than normal seasonal influenza, Turco said there is little need take enhanced precautions with flu patients.
The College Health Service will discontinue its daily updates on the status of cases at Dartmouth, though it will still periodically publish new information, according to a Tuesday press release.
Antiviral medications will now be reserved for patients with chronic illnesses, as they face the highest risk of infection, Turco said. A young and healthy population, like Dartmouth's student body, should have little need for such treatment, he said.
Texas health officials announced the first American death as a result of swine flu on Tuesday. The individual had a "pre-existing medical condition," The New York Times reported. The 33-year-old Texan had been hospitalized since April 14 and had recently given birth, according to The Times.
While the H1N1 virus responsible for swine flu is not producing life-threatening cases, Turco cautioned against complacency. Turco said the H1N1 virus is a new strain that will likely disappear after the spring, but which has the potential to return in a much more dangerous form next flu season, much like the 1918 Spanish influenza.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on Tuesday that because cases have been less severe than feared, it is no longer necessary for schools to close to prevent the virus from spreading.
Many of the College's precautions will remain in place to manage the "declining outbreak," including a Facilities Operation and Management program to distribute Purell hand sanitizer to students, Turco said. The effort should help improve personal hygiene during future flu seasons, he said.
The College is unlikely, however, to change its travel policies, which were implemented last Friday in response to the outbreak.
Patients who present a high fever and flu-like symptoms are encouraged to follow the guidelines published by Health Services, Turco said. Health Services recommend that individuals with these symptoms isolate themselves as much as possible until symptoms have subsided for 24 hours.
There are currently 403 confirmed cases of swine flu nationwide, with 38 states reporting at least one case, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization reported that 822 cases have appeared in Mexico, with 29 deaths.
