The fervor over the H1N1 virus that began in April hasn’t died down. Emergency rooms are seeing an influx of patients concerned that they have the virus.

Parents who most likely would have stayed home with their sick children last year are bringing them in for treatment, said Pam Joggerst, Heartland Health’s team leader for infection, prevention and control. Many of the cases turn out to be allergies, asthma or the common cold.

“We didn’t really know what we were dealing with,” Ms. Joggerst said of the introduction of the H1N1 virus — commonly called swine flu — which came with a media storm of information that worried a lot of people. “And then as we know more now, we see that it’s not as bad as we thought it was going to be.”

Heartland reported six patients with the flu recently, which is a low number, Ms. Joggerst said.

The same can’t be said for the St. Joseph School District. In the last week of September, 63 students were reported by their parents to have been diagnosed by a doctor to have the flu — though not necessarily H1N1.

Eileen Duty, coordinator of health services for the school district, said the normal number of absence due to flu this time of year is zero. She said they are following guidelines in recommending that students stay away from school until they are 24 hours removed from fever, though some doctors recommend staying home for 48 hours.

“Which is fine with us,” Ms. Duty said. “Doctors have final say.”

Local prison officials are also following the virus. The Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center had a bug breakout this week, but a Department of Corrections official said it wasn’t H1N1.

Jacqueline Lapine, a spokeswoman for the department, said two inmates with a fever tested negative for the virus, but they are taking precautions. Staff are being fitted with a special mask to help protect them from the virus, should it spread among the inmates.

“We’ve been looking at triggers and adjusting as we go,” Ms. Lapine said of their flu plan, which includes having employees stay away from work if they’re feeling ill, and keeping infected inmates out of the general population.

Ms. Joggerst said the upshot of the attention the virus has gotten is that more people will seek out the seasonal flu shots this year.

“‘OK, what am I supposed to do?’” Ms. Joggerst said of the public’s continued confusion about the new virus. “‘Am I supposed to be worried about it or am I not supposed to be worried about it?’ People are trying to be responsible and do the right thing.”

Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmym@npgco.com.