Update on H1N1 notes recent spike in illness

Administrators from Tufts' three campuses announced yesterday  in an e-mail that approximately 130 students over the past six weeks have suffered from influenza-like illness (ILI), and vaccines for the H1N1 influenza will likely arrive considerably later than anticipated.

Of the infected students reported, over 50  -- most of whom are undergraduates -- have surfaced in the past week alone.

"An increasing percentage of these cases appear to be H1N1, although since testing is limited it is hard to know for sure," the e-mail said. "Some students have been ill for only a few days, others for over a week."

Approximately 20 cases of ILI have surfaced on the Boston campus, none on the Grafton campus and a small number among faculty and staff.

H1N1 vaccines -- originally estimated to arrive on campus as early as mid-October -- have been delayed by nearly a month, and Tufts officials are not yet aware when the vaccine will be available to students.

"We do not know when we will receive vaccine, but it seems likely that it will be the end of November at the earliest," the e-mail continued. "We will let the Tufts community know as we receive more information."

The university is also planning to receive an additional stock of seasonal flu vaccine, but administrators are again unaware when the vaccine will be available. Vaccines ran out quickly in mid-September during Tufts' first flu clinic. Manufacturing for seasonal flu vaccine has stalled because companies are simultaneously producing vaccines for both H1N1 and seasonal flu. A number of local pharmacies still have seasonal flu vaccines available, the e-mail said.

--Alexandra Bogus