Influenza Like Illness (ILI) in Colleges and Universities
With preliminary epidemiologic data on novel H1N1 flu suggesting significant risk among those in the college setting, ACHA deems it epidemiologically valuable to identify disease burden and population based attack rates of influenza like illnesses (ILI) [ICD-CM Diagnosis 487.1] on college campuses. ACHA has thus undertaken an effort to enlist (on a voluntary basis) interested institutions of higher education to submit data on a weekly basis regarding the number of new cases of ILI. Additionally, given reports of significant variability of H1N1 vaccine availability across the nation, beginning October 30, 2009, ACHA has undertaken reporting on the availability of the H1N1 vaccine, as well as the vaccine uptake in a continuing effort to assist the CDC, public health officials, and all college health professionals in tracking national vaccine trends for the college population.
New ILI cases reported include those seen in the student health service, those triaged over the phone by a health care professional but simply told to self-isolate and not be seen in the health service, and those known by the health service to have been seen in a local emergency department or urgent care center.
The links below depict weeky case data for the period January 23-29, 2010, as reported to ACHA, as well as ACHA's cumulative case data and an epicurve chart reflecting weekly ILI case counts and weekly attack rates. The fourth link below provides summary information on the availability of the H1N1 vaccine and the vaccine uptake among reporting institutions.
In this period of influenza activity, a total of 627 new ILI cases were reported (no hospitalizations and no deaths) among campus populations totaling over 2.4 million. Fifty-five percent of 205 colleges and universities reported new ILI cases, compared to 46 percent reporting new cases for the previous period. The nationwide attack rate was 2.6 cases/10,000 students. There has been no significant change in disease activity in the last six weeks. The continued low disease incidence among college students is consistent with the decreasing trends nationwide.
"From this ongoing sample of 2-3 million students, we have now observed nearly 90,000 cases of ILI since late August. Data on vaccine availability has improved and with this week’s report from 205 schools, reflects 83 percent of reporting institutions having quantities of the vaccine. Uptake still remains relatively low through the end of January, with about nine percent of students being vaccinated. However, encouragingly, institutions from some states report vaccine uptake rates approaching 40 percent." according to Dr. James C. Turner, president of the American College Health Association and executive director of the department of student health at the University of Virginia.
Note: These data do not represent all institutions of higher education, nationwide.
Limitations: State case counts and rates do not represent the complete incidence of ILI in the state's population, nor the incidence of ILI among all institutions of higher education in the state. The case counts and rates only represent those institutions of higher education that participate in the surveillance program.
Suggested Citation: ACHA. American College Health Association Influenza Like Illnesses (ILI) Surveillance in Colleges and Universities 2009-2010: Weekly College ILI cases reported. Linthicum, MD: American College Health Association; 2010.
