BLOOMINGTON — As the number of H1N1 influenza cases continues to rise, campus health officials are noting that most flu cases have been relatively mild.

This contrast of a rare, potentially fatal virus affecting thousands of people — but usually mildly — explains why most people are concerned, are getting vaccinated and washing their hands, but aren’t panicking over H1N1, Erin Tolle Link of the McLean County Health Department said Friday.

Illinois Department of Public Health reported that 1,371 people statewide have been hospitalized for H1N1 and 48 have died.

In McLean County, there have been 40 confirmed cases and two people have died. In Livingston County, there have been three confirmed cases, said Linda Rhodes of the Livingston County Health Department.

Confirmed cases are people who have been hospitalized and had a test confirming H1N1. Many other people with influenza-like illness probably have had H1N1 but aren’t confirmed cases because they weren’t sick enough to be hospitalized.

Rhodes said 3,000 school days have been missed since August by Livingston County students with influenza.

At Illinois State University, 658 students have been treated for influenza but the trend has been slowing, said medical director Dr. Glenn Weiss.

At Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, 91 students have been treated for influenza.

“Students have seen their fellow students with influenza return to campus after three or four days and they have had no secondary infections or hospitalizations,” said Debra Adams, director of IWU’s Arnold Health Service. “Because it’s been a relatively mild flu, that’s helped to ease concerns.”

College clinics

Weiss agreed but said interest remains high for ISU’s H1N1 flu shot clinic for students, which begins noon Sunday at Redbird Arena. IWU’s second student H1N1 flu shot clinic begins 10:30 a.m. Monday in the Memorial Center.

McLean County has vaccinated nearly 7,000 people at its flu shot clinics. Livingston County has vaccinated about 3,000 people and has other clinics scheduled.