Students Diagnosed with H1N1

Two NC State students diagnosed with the novel H1N1 influenza virus last week are recuperating at home off campus. The cases appear to be unrelated, Health Services officials said.

The university notified those enrolled in classes with the students to monitor themselves for flu symptoms, which may include fever over 100 degrees, respiratory symptoms, such as cough and sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and diarrhea or vomiting. An e-mail alert was also sent late Friday to the campus community, including employees of the university.

Influenza is spread person to person (when an infected person coughs or sneezes sending contaminated droplets through the air that can be deposited in the mouth or nose of people as far as 6 feet away) or from contaminated objects to a person (when something is touched that has been contaminated with the virus, and then hands are brought to the mouth, nose, or eyes). The virus can survive for minutes to hours on surfaces. Incubation period from contact with the virus to symptoms is usually within 7 days.