Agencies and academic institutions across Wisconsin are on high alert and preparing for a large-scale H1NI virus pandemic.
As of Sept. 9, over 6,400 cases of the virus have been reported. Milwaukee has reported 4,060 cases and 426 hospitalizations. Dane county has reported 631 cases.
UW-Madison University Health Services Executive Director Dr. Susan Van Orman said the number of H1N1 cases at UW-Madison may have doubled since last week's reported number of 198 cases.
Wisconsin's Department of Health Services now provides a ""Pandemic Flu Resource"" website that outlines the number of confirmed cases and offers planning tips in the case of a major outbreak.
Seth Boffeli, communications director for DHS, said the department spent the summer in ""planning mode."" He said the department focused on reviewing their response from last spring so response measures can be improved.
Boffeli said vaccination clinics will be available for the H1N1 vaccine in October and vaccinations will be distributed on a ""joint public-private"" basis, allowing Wisconsin citizens the choice to receive the vaccination either through their health-care provider or at a public vaccination clinic.
Federal emergency response funding has helped offset local health departments' costs for the free services they provide, Boffeli said. He said local clinics will continue to be reimbursed when vaccination distribution begins.
Boffeli added that the department is currently focusing on prevention in the business sector and encourages businesses to preplan in the event of an outbreak.
The City of Milwaukee Health Department is holding a summit Tuesday to present information to businesses about the risk of H1N1 spreading between employees and clients. In a statement, the city of Milwaukee said all employees are at risk of getting sick.
Julie Bonner, executive director of UW-Milwaukee's Norris Health Center, said she has seen an approximate 20 to 30 percent increase in the number of calls from students with H1N1 symptoms.
According to Bonner, the Norris Health Center is focusing on stemming the virus' spread on a community rather than individual level.
""We look at ourselves as representative of the larger community. The number of cases isn't as relevant as looking at and empowering individuals ... to do the responsible thing and stay home,"" she said.
At Marquette University, students are no longer tested if they report symptoms. Marquette reported its first H1N1 case last Monday and is encouraging students to stay home and notify student health services.
Despite Marquette's precautions, Brigid O'Brien-Miller, university communications director at Marquette, said they have only ""a handful"" of cases. She said five cases since Friday have been confirmed.
