The University is facing the largest flu outbreak in the country, said Dr. Davis Dennis, a state epidemiologist who said it "may be the forerunner for what is to sweep across the country."

The flu virus has taken the University by storm, infecting about one-fourth to one-third of University students and initiating speculation about quarantine and class cancellation. That type of decision would probably have to come from upper administrators, said Dr. Harry M. McDermott, director of the University's Ritenour Health Center.

McDermott said in his 21 years of experience here the University has never quarantined or canceled classes because of a virus. "If this proved to be a flu virus with complications, it may influence the decision (to cancel classes)," McDermott said.

A spokesperson for the University Office of Public Information said Monday that there are no plans to cancel classes.

Peter Pizzutillo (freshman-liberal arts) said it would be a good idea for the University to cancel classes to give the students a chance to catch up. "I can't take notes while I'm sneezing and coughing. Keeping students together will just make them more sick," he said.

"It gets kind of upsetting when you're in class with 400 people and everyone is coughing and hacking," said Aileen Mink (junior-french).

The virus, which began last Friday, is now wide-spread on campus, with about one-third of the student population infected, Dennis said. This figure is the result of surveys taken in Sproul and Brumbaugh Halls.

McDermott agreed with Dennis' estimate of the number of students who have contracted the infection.

The average wait at Ritenour has been fairly long, from one to one-and-a-half hours. Mink said she spent almost an hour in Ritenour waiting to see a physician about her sore throat and persistent sneezing.

"I had to sit on the floor in the back because it was so crowded when I first came in," she said.

Despite the surge in student visitations, medication is plentiful and more is being ordered, McDermott said.

"So far we have been fortunate that our medical providers have not come down (with the virus)," he said.

The University, with assistance from the state Department of Health, is attempting to identify which influenza virus, A or B, has been plaguing the University. McDermott said it could be a combination of the viruses.

Dr. Floyd Naugle, associate director of Ritenour, said "We did about 10 throat washings today to send off to the state lab so they could identify the virus."

It will take three to four days to get the results, McDermott said.

With the number of people affected by the virus, Dennis said the main concern is the development of pneumonia. But so far, no complications have arisen among the University's students, McDermott said.

Dennis said the virus is circulating so widely there is not much that can be done to stop people from being infected. He said students are most prone to getting the flu because of crowding and close contact. Getting over-tired and overstressed will also increase the likelihood of getting infected, Davis said.

"Do not go to a basketball game if you don't want exposure," Davis said.

Influenza, because it is a virus which does not respond to antibiotics, must receive symptomatic treatment such as cough syrup, a decongestant for a stuffy nose, and an analgesic for a fever. However, individuals 18 years of age or younger are advised not to take aspirin because of the chance of contracting Reye's syndrome, Dennis said.

McDermott said he encourages tripling intake of liquids and absolutely no physical activity for those infected.

Susan Kennedy, director of the Office of Health Promotion and Education, said a pamphlet titled "Influenza" has been made available for students and can be picked up in Ritenour. She said it is meant to inform the students of the signs and symptoms of the flu and how they can care for themselves.

Dennis said individuals experiencing flu symptoms do not need to go to the health center unless they are experiencing a high prolonged fever or symptoms of pneumonia -- consistent fever exceeding 3-4 days, persistent cough and a cough with sputum.

As a result of the virus, Centre Community Hospital and six other county institutions have been advised by the state Department of Health to isolate their residents from individuals under the age of 21. McDermott said this age group was singled out because this particular strain of flu virus attacks this age group harder than older adults.

Donna Williams, a spokeswoman for the Centre Community Hospital, said the hospital is asking that children and college students refrain from visiting patients while the epidemic continues. "(It is the) age group that the flu epidemic has struck and we want to protect (our)patients from additional illness."