With possibly 200 cases of H1N1 already on campus, UI officials said the number of students contracting the virus may be on the rise.

“I believe we will see an increase almost immediately,” said, Jean Robillard, the UI vice president for Medical Affairs, during a state Board of Regents meeting in Council Bluffs on Thursday.

H1N1 cases are increasing at the UI and are expected to the rest of the year, UI Health Care officials said Thursday.

“Usually you see a peak in winter, but we’re seeing it already,” Robillard told the regents.

Many schools, including the UI, continue to work on a vaccination for the virus, which could be complete by the end of October. In the meantime, students are encouraged to prevent spreading the flu with basic sanitary measures, including washing their hands and staying home when feeling ill.

When the vaccine becomes available, officials will administer it to priority groups, including pregnant women, household contacts, and caregivers for children younger than six months, as well as health-care and emergency personnel.

Dean of the College of Medicine Paul Rothman said everyone should eventually take advantage of a future vaccination.

“When they develop an effective vaccine, everyone should get it,” he said.

— by Shane Ersland