Cornell is once again experiencing an increase in the number of cases of likely H1N1 influenza, according to University health officials.

Last week, Gannett Health Services diagnosed 128 students with influenza-like symptoms in addition to the many students who were treated for other upper respiratory infections and common colds. The colder weather and the more stressful workload this time in the semester contributes to these regular infections and colds, according to Sharon Dittman, associate director of community relations at Gannett Health Services.

Over the past four weeks, Gannett Health Services has been diagnosing approximately 120 students each week with influenza-like symptoms, which is double the average number of likely flu cases from the four previous weeks.

Dittmann said that the seasonal flu is not yet in New York State, so if students have the flu, they likely have the H1N1 strain.

“We are one of many healthcare providers in the state who send off a couple of samples to the New York State Department of Health every week for testing and typing … The state does this to get the big picture of what flu is circulating in any given geographic area.” Dittman explained. “Right now, 100 percent of the flu circulating in the state is H1N1.”

In addition to the increase in H1N1 cases on campus, Gannett is beginning to see more students with pneumonia and bronchitis. Students who have already had the flu are prone to secondary infections like pneumonia and bronchitis, Dittman said.

“A concerning number of our patients have developed bronchitis and pneumonia on top of a flu-like illness or even after they started feeling better,” she said. “Worsening symptoms should be evaluated promptly before they turn into something more complicated.”

Dittman also said she was concerned that since most cases of the flu have been mild to moderate students may not take the swine flu threat as seriously.

“We are glad that its not quite so scary to people, but we are also concerned that they may become complacent about their efforts to protect themselves and others, or to seek health care promptly if concerning symptoms arise,” Dittman said.

While Gannett expects that there will be enough H1N1 vaccinations eventually, they currently only have enough supply to offer the H1N1 vaccine to high risk members of the community.

The University has registered with the New York State Department of Health to receive at least 14,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine. Gannett is currently waiting for at least 12,300 of those vaccines.

Seasonal flu vaccines, on the other hand, have been a much more pressing issue for Gannett this semester. This year only about 3,000 Cornellians have thus far received the seasonal flu vaccine, compared to the 11,500 students and professors who were vaccinated last year. Gannett has been unable to secure enough seasonal flu vaccine and has therefore been unable to be as aggressive in vaccinating students.

“We usually set up clinics all over campus to offer the vaccine to students, but because we have so much less of the vaccine this year we haven’t been out there doing that” Dittmann said.

However, she added that so far anyone who has requested the seasonal flu vaccine has been able to get one.