ASHLEIGH MATTERN
Editor-in-Chief
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   At least 10 people living in University of Saskatchewan residences have fallen ill with confirmed or suspected cases of H1N1.
   On Oct. 28, the university community received an announcement stating two students in residence had mild cases of the virus, with another five suspected. Newer numbers show the same two confirmed and eight suspected.
   David Hannah, leader of the crisis management team and associate vice-president student and enrollment services, says the outbreaks are taking place in McEown Park and Voyager Place. All reported cases have been mild to moderate. Â
   In an attempt to avoid spreading the flu, the Student Health Centre also sent out a notice on Oct. 29 saying they “will be deferring all new non-urgent medical visits until further notice.”
   In an interview with the Sheaf, Lynn Kuffner, manager of student health and counselling, clarified this, saying they’re asking people to wait to book appointments for things like physicals so the Health Centre can focus on helping people with flu-like illnesses. Kuffner says it’s also because people are more at risk of catching the flu coming into the clinic.
   “We are asking people to consider deferring new, non-urgent conditions but some people can’t or don’t have the time to defer, so for those who feel they have to come in, we just inform them they have to use the isogel and be masked,” said Kuffner.
   While face masks have not been proven effective in every day use and may even increase the wearer’s chance of contracting an illness, Kuffner explained they do help in a closed environment like a clinic when they’re worn for a short amount of time.
   Along with tips to prevent the flu, the notice also gave contact information for the Saskatoon Health Region clinics and the university’s pandemic preparedness committee.
   Besides coughing into your elbow and washing your hands, Hannah says it’s important students get vaccinated. The U of S has provided the Saskatoon Health Region with space in the Education Gym for an immunization clinic running Nov. 24 to 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
   “We want to make it clear that the clinic is only going to be able to handle 8,000 people, so we want to be encouraging people to not wait for the university clinic but get out there into the city clinics,” said Hannah.