The myths surrounding swine flu have skyrocketed with the number of confirmed cases at the University.

Ronald Forehand, medical director at the University Health Center, said as of Friday, 275 University students met diagnostic criteria for influenza.

He said some of these cases were confirmed either by rapid influenza A or B tests at the Health Center, or by more sensitive tests done by the Georgia Division of Public Health.

“Part of the challenge is the hype that surrounds [H1N1],” Forehand said in a telephone interview Friday. “We’ve seen a number of students fearful they have it, but are minimally ill.”

That hype has led to a number of rumors around campus, including one saying UGA will close down if the situation gets worse. Forehand said that decision lies with University President Michael Adams, but he is unaware of any such plan.

“At this point no one here or at CDC, that I am aware of, is recommending or even considering closure or cancellation of classes or events,” Forehand said.

“The situation is just not that bad at the present time.”

He said the Health Center sends regular updates to the administration so they are aware of what is going on, and advises students to use preventative practices to lower their risk of contracting illnesses.

For the most part, the duration of the virus ranges between five to eight days, Forehand said. That’s several days of missed classes.

He said professors have been asked to review their attendance policies in light of all the flu cases.

Another rumor going around says students who have swine flu must leave the University for two weeks, which Forehand said was not true.

“That’s not our policy,” he said. “We want students to get back to class as soon as they are no longer contagious.”

He said some students were told to come back to the Health Center in two weeks for a medical follow-up, but were not told to leave the University for that entire period of time.

He advised sick students to isolate themselves until their fever drops and remains normal without the use of medication for 24 hours.

“This means avoid groups, don’t ride the bus, don’t go to class, don’t go to the dining halls or residence halls, stay in their apartments, rental houses or to go to their permanent home if possible,” Forehand said.

Recently there was some concern over a Tamiflu shortage, a myth Forehand was quick to dispel.

“There is plenty of Tamiflu and Relenza, the other medication we use to treat this infection,” he said. As part of the Health Center’s “contingency inventory” for potential public health disasters, Forehand said there were thousands of Tamiflu doses on hand.

He also said despite popular belief, not everyone needs to take Tamiflu. Students who should take it are those whose symptoms started within 48 hours and who have other medical conditions or are taking medications that suppress the immune system.

“What we have found is that 10 to 20 percent of people stop the medicine after two to four doses due to nausea or vomiting,” he said.

Despite popular belief, healthy students should not wear surgical masks to prevent getting sick.

“For healthy people, surgical masks are not a very effective way to prevent inhaling germs that are circulating,” Forehand said.

He said the Health Center provides N95 respirator masks to sick students and their family members who will be taking care of them. The N95 masks filter much smaller particles and fit tighter to the face than simple surgical masks, so people are inhaling air that has been filtered through the mask instead of air from around the mask, he said.

Forehand also said the Athens area does not need to worry about hospitals not being able to handle all the influenza cases.

“We are fortunate to have two outstanding area hospitals and they tell me they are operating as usual,” he said. “We talk and meet with their emergency room doctors and disaster planners, as well as Public Health and other community partners, on a regular basis.”

While Febreze might make dorm rooms smell better, it does little to keep H1N1 germs at bay. Forehand said he likes to use Lysol brand disinfectant spray, wipes and all-purpose cleaners for that purpose.

Overall, Forehand said, people should not panic about contracting the swine flu.

“Currently, while it is a significant illness with fever, cough, sore throat and headache, the complication rates are low,” he said. “What we are seeing among students is a disease milder than the seasonal flu.”