On Wednesday, suspected cases of swine flu were reported in Seattle, and UW officials are busy preparing for a potential outbreak. Worldwide concern over the virus — now characterized as a phase 5 pandemic alert by the World Health Organiation (WHO) — has spread quickly in the past week. Phases 5 and 6 of the WHO pandemic alert are defined as widespread human infection.

With a high concentration of students living and working together, university officials are concerned that the influenza could spread quickly throughout campus.

“This is the foundation for a potential pandemic, so UW officials are taking this very seriously,” said Jean Haulman, associate medical director for public health and immunizations.

While the majority of swine-flu cases in California, Texas, New York, Kansas and Ohio have been mild, more confirmed cases are showing up daily, and on Wednesday, the United States had its first fatality related to the disease. Of the otherwise healthy infected people in Mexico, 6 percent have died, Haulman said.

The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD) held an emergency meeting Monday after word about the flu hit news stations last week.

Vice President and Vice Provost of Student Life Eric Godfrey said the committee met to discuss what’s happening nationally and internationally and to make decisions about what should be communicated to the campus community.

“Over the coming week or so, we, as a group, will be revisiting the university’s protocol and plans under emergency circumstances in the event that we need to be more responsive,” he said.

In September 2006, the ACCD came up with a management plan and specific control strategies to address a potential outbreak of avian flu that officials will review. In this document, the committee outlined different threat levels, ranging from zero to three, based on the World Health Organization’s phases.

Currently, the UW stands at “Level One: Prepare,” which the report defines as having confirmed cases of the influenza in the United States, Mexico or Canada. Level Two requires cases being found on campus.

At the first level, the report states that each student and employee needs to take personal responsibility for their health by doing things like washing their hands frequently, not sharing drinks or utensils, disinfecting households surfaces, not attending class or work if they experience unusual coughing or sneezing symptoms and seeking medical attention if symptoms persist.

“It is usually better to be diagnosed before a person is critically ill,” Haulman said. “Persons with symptoms of influenza who develop a worsening cough, fever, chest pain, shortness of breath should be seen immediately. The same antivirals used for seasonal influenza may lessen the symptoms of swine influenza.”

At the first level, the university may also consider canceling classes or public events to limit close contact between students.

Hall Health is equipped to treat students with influenza symptoms, and if a pandemic situation were to occur, officials have an emergency plan that would be executed along with the UW’s plan. Additionally, Hall Health officials are asking UW students to cancel any nonessential trips to Mexico.

Whitney Easton, a UW senior interning at the Institute of International Education in Mexico City, said many are fearful about the virus.

“While I personally am in both good spirits and health, it has been hard to ignore the paranoia/panic in the media and within the general public,” she wrote in an e-mail. “I spent a good part of [Tuesday] home from work and trying to subdue fears from friends and family in Seattle. The military was out all weekend handing out face masks and walking through the streets.”

Easton has been abroad since March and does not plan to return to the states until September.

“While I was nervous initially, one has to remember that there are 24 million people in this city — and while 150 deaths is alarming, it is also important to keep this in perspective,” she said. “There have also been many that have recovered in Mexico, and it is not fatal for all. I have joined the masses in wearing a face mask — a very strange feeling, I might add — have been resting plenty, staying away from public transportation, washing my hands and am confident the situation will soon settle.”

Reach reporter Katie McVicker at news@dailyuw.com.