Four possible swine flu cases have been reported at the University of Delaware, in Newark, DE.
I'm a senior at the University of Delaware, so let me share with you what has transpired in Newark this evening along with some student reactions.
I heard about the news around 9pm EST when I received a breaking news text message alert from the local paper, the Wilmington News Journal.
Here is a quote from the News Journal's article:
The four UD students -- none of whom recently traveled to Mexico -- have flu symptoms that meet the probable definitions for swine flu, Dr. Paul Silverman, associate deputy director for health information & science of the Division of Public Health, said in a statement. The State Division of Public Health is submitting samples from the four cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if they are cases of swine flu.
The students, who are experiencing mild flu-like symptoms, were treated Monday at the university’s Student Health Services. The Division of Public Health received the preliminary test results confirming the probable cases this afternoon, conducted interviews with the students and classified the cases as probable swine flu.
Shortly after I received the News Journal's alert the University of Delaware activated their emergency alert system to notify the university community of the possibility of an outbreak. I received both a text message and an automated phone call.
As for student reactions, most of the updates that I've seen on facebook have mostly been mocking the hysteria and referencing all the Purell that people are planning on buying. My person favorite though is the text message I received from my roommate:
swine flu is confirmed in newark. S-flu turns u in2 a zombie. pass it on. all must b prepared!