Swine flu, technically known as North American Human Influenza A (H1N1), has infected pop culture at a far faster pace than the disease's actual transmission rate.
Reality TV stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt kissed"" each other while donning surgical masks after returning from their Mexico Honeymoon on April 30. Postsecret.com's weekly Sunday postings featured a postcard that said, ""Part of me wishes the Swine Flu will reach my state, my city ... Just so my college classes will be temporarily cancelled."" So what are the chances UW-Madison classes will be cancelled because of this disease? Pretty slim.
According to Wisconsin's Pandemic Flu Resource, pandemic.wisconsin.gov, Dane County has zero confirmed or probable cases. The Center for Disease Control defines a confirmed case of swine-origin Influenza A as at least one positive test from a viral culture or a RT-PCR (real time polymerase chain reaction), which simultaneously amplifies and quantifies a targeted DNA molecule.
""Of course I'm a little concerned, but I'm just trying to stay healthy [and] wash my hands frequently,"" said UW sophomore Natasha Anderson. ""I can't let the fear of swine flu bother me too much since it's about to be finals week.""
Typically on college campuses many probable cases come out negative, though some positive cases have already been confirmed at George Washington University and the University of Notre Dame, according to Dave Bujak of Florida State University. Some schools, like Texas Wesleyan University, cancelled all remaining activities and classes besides finals, but the schedules of most universities will continue as usual.
The nearest college with a confirmed case of H1N1 was the University of Notre Dame, but by now the student is fully recovered. Notre Dame sophomore Anna Hing, said, ""Swine flu wasn't really a big deal here. If more people had gotten it, then I'd be concerned, but the person was cured quickly.""
According to Hing, not much on campus changed after the detection of an active H1N1 case. Notre Dame sent out precautionary e-mails to warn students of the active case and gave prevention advice. Notre Dame (a Catholic institution) stopped serving wine at all masses temporarily to prevent viral spread as well.
Despite public and pop culture fascination, serious cases of deathly swine flu have not hit Wisconsin or any other colleges. By following the CDC guidelines and visiting doctors with any troublesome symptoms, H1N1 should not be a worry for the UW campus or Madison as a whole.
