Days after a Cornell University student died from complications of the H1N1 virus, Penn State Director of University Health Services Margaret Spear said his death may make the severity of the virus hit home.
"This makes clear the gravity of the situation and why we are trying to get students to follow our recommendations for isolation to mitigate the intensity of the outbreak," she said. "Our job is to arm but not alarm."
Twenty-year-old Warren J. Schor died Sept. 11 at Cayuga Medical Center, Cornell President David Skorton wrote in a press release Friday. In the aftermath of his death, students are mourning and taking precautions to stay healthy.
Schor's death has raised new fears at Penn State. On Monday alone, there were 60 more cases of swine flu-like symptoms seen on campus. Last week, there were 10 times more cases than the week before, Spear said.
Cornell junior Lauren Schneider said in response to the threat of the H1N1 virus -- commonly known as the swine flu -- fraternities within the university's Interfraternity Council voted to stop parties. Schneider, 20, said she could only imagine how quickly swine flu could be transmitted through drinking games like beer pong.
"They don't want hundreds of people crowded together with this on the loose," she said.
Though Schneider said she didn't know Schor, her friends who did are devastated.
"I think that what's troubling the campus and a lot of people is that in general, it's just the regular flu, but there are certain people who are at greater risks," she said. "You don't know who might be immunocompromised. It's striking very close to home."
Cornell junior Chris Nieves agreed, saying the campus community is very somber. But most aren't too stressed about contracting the virus themselves, he said.
"[Schor] had a compromised immune system," Nieves, 20, said. "For the most part, a lot of people don't even know if they have it. They just tell you to go home and stay in bed and you'll be fine. I've had some friends get it and they get better after, like, three days."
People with underlying heath conditions like asthma, chronic respiratory illnesses, diabetes, chronic arthritis or those who are pregnant or significantly obese are at a greater risk for complications for H1N1, Spear said.
Students with weakened immune systems or severe symptoms need to see a health care professional if they contract H1N1, while others can just remain at home. But Spear said students who live on campus should call their area coordinator if they have influenza-like symptoms.
"For most, they'll recover like they normally do and they don't need to see a health care professional, but some people are at greater risks," she said.
Despite the gloom on campus, Schneider said the health center staff at Cornell has been "absolutely incredible."
"I was there last week. I did not have swine flu, but once I got into the examination room, I was completely blown away that they were smiling," she said. "They're holding it together for everybody else, and I think that's amazing."
