A case of H1N1 was confirmed at Armory House Properties, 1010 S. Second St., Tuesday.

After a resident developed flu symptoms last weekend, the individual made an appointment at McKinley Health Center, said Linda Fotzler, co-owner of the building. When staff was contacted by McKinley Health Center, parents and students were notified through e-mail. Displayed signs in the building alerted others of the case. A doctor from the health center answered questions and provided health tips to residents Tuesday night.

"We (housing owners) expected it to hit on campus, but we were all hoping that it would wait a while," she added.

There is no specific test for the H1N1 virus, however, said Dr. David Lawrance, spokesman for McKinley Health Center.

If a student comes in with flu symptoms and look and feels like they have the flu, then it most likely is the flu, he added.

The student was relocated from his double room to a room and bathroom, Fotzler said. It is isolated from other residents, and meals are delivered in disposable containers. The student was not sent home because his family is in California.

The resident will not attend class or move back into his former room until McKinley Health Center informs Armory House Properties that he is well.

Though Fotzler said both residents and parents are concerned, she received positive responses about the actions the building is taking.

"Thanks very much for the quick communication," said resident parent Cathy Hartz in an e-mail to Fotzler. "You have no idea what a blessing it is to me and my husband to know that Mickey has been able to live in a complex where the owners care so much. It's clearly evident."

Eight students have come in with H1N1 virus in the past two days, and the numbers have probably gone up since then, Lawrance said. These numbers, he said, are not alarming, but "absolutely" what was expected.

"We expected to see the first cases on the first day of school," Lawrance said. "We were surprised not to see any over the summer."

One in three students will become infected with the H1N1 virus by winter break, Lawrance said, but this is no reason to panic.

"It just means the virus is actually on campus now, it isn't theoretical anymore," he said. "The key, most important thing students can do is wash their hands."

The best advice Lawrance suggested for students with the flu is to go home in order to protect their friends and roommates from the virus. He also suggested students carry hand sanitizer to protect themselves from others' germs.

With so many students expected to get sick this semester, Lawrance suggested finding 'flu buddies' or friends to agree to check in on one another when they are ill.

"It's new to everybody and we just want to limit the number of people who get sick," Lawrance said. "But there's nothing to be afraid of."