University efforts monitor the appearance of the H5N1 virus — more commonly known as "bird flu" — at live bird markets from around the state.  Prof. K. A. Schat studies the genome of the virus, which has the potential to mutate and infect humans.

Gannett has administered fewer flu vaccinations and diagnosed fewer cases of the flu than last year when the campus was rocked by the swine flu epidemic.

Though swine flu may no longer be a great fear, the staff at Gannett still has their hands full preparing for flu season.

After a fall semester filled with swine flu cases, the H1N1 virus showed little signs of resurgence when students returned from the spring. Now, Gannett is focused on preventive measures.

Though over 1628 Swine Flu cases were confirmed by the end of November, the Swine Flu epidemic may be well behind the Cornell community. Since February, there have been only 80 confirmed cases of the illness.

All university students who shadow at a clinical site should strongly consider getting immunized for both H1N1 and seasonal flu as soon as the vaccine becomes available, if it is not already mandated for you. In New York State all healthcare workers are being mandated to get both vaccines for seasonal flu and H1N1. This includes physicians, nurses, social workers, laboratory technicians, housekeeping, security/transportation services, construction workers, and even hospital volunteers. Technically, even construction workers and food vendors need to get vaccinated now. Thus far, New York State is the only state to have passed this mandate. Earlier this week, nurse union leaders led demonstrations in Washington D.C., claiming that this mandate is unethical.

A line of people spilled out of the Straight Memorial Room onto Ho Plaza, took a bend outside the Cornell Store and stretched all the way to McGraw Tower Friday. The line could be spotted for the entire day, when about 2,000 people received their seasonal flu shot.

Gannett Health Service’s vaccination clinic, the first opportunity for many Cornellians to receive a flu shot this semester, was the largest clinic Gannett had ever held, according to Sharon Dittman, associate director of community relations at Gannett.

However, uncertainly over the arrival of additional vaccine may delay future clinics.

The Interfraternity Council voted unanimously last night to lift most of the restrictions it had imposed on fraternity social events over the past several weeks due to H1N1 concerns. The Council decided to remove its ban on large, open parties but reaffirmed mandatory safety precautions and the prohibition of drinking games.Members of the square table: Interfraternity Council members meet at Willard Straight Hall yesterday where they voted to lift the ban on open parties.

The IFC vote comes after a week of slowed flu-related activity at Gannett Health Services, which had been swamped with calls and visits over the past few weeks.

With each day, fear of the swine flu epidemic continues to surround campus. This year’s battle with H1N1 is not, however, the first that Cornell has encountered. In 1918 the Spanish flu, a similar strain of the H1N1 influenza virus, made its way through Tompkins County, claiming the lives of students, faculty members and citizens of Ithaca.

“The flu of ’18 was unique in that it had an effect on young adults, a fact that put students at risk,” said Barbara Hammond, a medical technologist who researched the impact of influenza on the Tompkins county population. “The infirmary was so overrun with cases that the University opened Cascadilla Hall as an emergency hospital.”

Having been to two Inter-Fraternity Council meetings thus far in the fall semester, I find myself shocked at the ways in which the IFC takes action, conducts meetings and — most importantly — at how little expressed dissent there is to the current state of this very powerful council.