Officials have confirmed one “mild” case of H1N1 influenza on campus, and say that Health Services is seeing increased incidences of respiratory illness.

Another case was confirmed in Broome County at the Wadsworth State Laboratory in Albany on Oct. 27.

“There has been a rapid nationwide increase in the number of H1N1 cases,” said Gail Glover, spokeswoman for BU. “Binghamton University’s incident management team continues to monitor the situation. The Incident Management Team (IMT) came together in the spring and will continue to work to manage issues relating to H1N1 flu.”

Donald Nieman, the dean of Harpur College of Arts & Sciences sent an e-mail to faculty and staff of Harpur last week requesting that they inform students not to attend class if they have flu-like symptoms.

“I also encourage you to be flexible in accommodating students’ absences due to flu and make accommodation for students who miss classes, labs and exams because of illness,” he said. “If you develop flu-like symptoms, please stay home so as not to endanger others. At this point, the best thing we can do to contain the flu is to reduce contact with persons who are infected.”

This message followed an August memorandum from Mary Ann Swain, provost and vice president for academic affairs, where she asked faculty to “create alternative ways to handle class attendance, laboratories, papers, paper presentations and final examinations (or any other course requirements) should members of your class become ill.”

With the increase of local cases, Health Services has requested that students call and report if they develop a fever since the wait for walk-in services is longer than usual, and students may not be able to make same-day appointments.

According to Michael Leonard, medical director of BU’s Health Services, professional advice from Health Services could be offered to students over the phone.

“We encourage ill students to call us because of this high volume,” Leonard said. “They can speak with a nurse or nurse practitioner, who will review their symptoms. If they have typical influenza symptoms, they are told so and advised to self-isolate, rest, push fluids and monitor their symptoms.”

On Monday, associate professor Don Boros sent an email through the theater department listserv warning students to take extra care.

“I was just informed that a student in one of my classes has the H1N1 flu,” he wrote. “Extra vigilance is a must.”

A free H1N1 flu vaccination clinic for students has been scheduled from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. today, in the Mandela Room of the Old University Union. Students need a photo/signature ID and a signed consent form to receive the vaccine.

Senior philosophy major Blake Maass called Health Services at the first signs of the flu, and was advised to stay in his room and not come in to see a doctor.

“I had flu-like symptoms and called Health Services’ hotline for an appointment to see if I actually had swine,” Maass said. “They told me not to come down to Health Services and claimed I would be more likely to catch the flu if I came down. [They said] I should stay in my room, self-medicate and isolate myself as long as possible.”

According to Maass he had been self-medicating for a few days prior to this call, since the symptoms did not all come at one time.

“Eventually it did get better, but it certainly was not a pleasant experience,” he said. “I missed a number of classes that I was not excused for.”

In the wake of a recent outbreak of H1N1 at Cornell University, BU waited for a shipment of the vaccine to arrive on campus.

The first shipment of the vaccine arrived at Binghamton last week and was distributed at free clinics held Monday and Wednesday in the Old University Union’s Mandela Room. However, due to a limited number of vaccines, which are regulated by the state, not everyone was able to get treated.

“But we only get a portion of what we ordered, because they have to deliver to the entire state of New York,” Diane O’Hora, supervising public health educator of Broome County health services, said.

O’Hora was unable to say when the next shipment would arrive, but said Broome County health services are doing their best to make the vaccine available to everyone who needs it in a timely manner.

According to Glover, BU follows New York state’s public health response, Broome County Health Department protocols and guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“Binghamton University is prepared to handle this situation,” Glover said. “Appropriate medical and support supplies have been stocked and staff have been assigned to particular medical, custodial and safety-related activities. Resources have been identified to support those who may become ill or exposed.”

There have been over 90,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 in the United States, and 529 people have died.