University Health Services reported a notable rise in influenza-like illnesses last week, as H1N1 vaccines remain scarce.

According to UHS, 115 influenza-like cases were evaluated Nov. 1 through Nov. 7, the fourth-highest total since the academic year began. Nearly 7.8 percent of all primary care visits were influenza-like encounters. Last week, 72 cases were evaluated, making up 5.2 percent of all primary care visits.

“Even though activity dropped quite a bit during the middle of October, the number of cases we received were still at what I consider to be influenza epidemic levels. … So, this never really went away. What we are seeing now is that the level of activity at UHS is similar to what we are seeing in the rest of Madison and Dane County,” said Sarah Van Orman, UHS director.

The H1N1 vaccination will soon become available to high-risk adults, in addition to high-risk children and young adults, Van Orman said, who added she expects the state to release a statement next week authorizing the vaccination of high-risk adults.

The Centers for Disease Control regulates how many available vaccinations are delivered to each state, based on population. Then, it is up to the state health department to determine which organizations receive vaccines.

“Today, you would need to be pregnant, a health care worker, a health care student or providing child care to children under six months of age to receive the H1N1 vaccination,” said Craig Roberts, UHS epidemiologist.

Van Orman said it is likely the state will be unable to give H1N1 vaccinations to healthy students before December. A mass clinic will not be scheduled until that time.

“We want to make sure that if UHS receives more vaccines not too much later into the semester, we would then make plans to vaccinate at the end of the semester or early next semester. What we would not want to see happen is another outbreak in January or February when people come back to campus,” Van Orman said.