The shared, cramped quarters can be a breeding ground for germs, making it easier to catch the common cold or worse, swine flu.

"We feel all schools nationwide, including MSU will probably have several cases in the next few weeks," said Burnie Snodgrass, director of Taylor Health and Wellness Center.

The virus is most common among the young age 24 and under, but many students are cool to the threat.

"I'm not really worried about it. I keep my hands sanitized," said William Ulbricht, MSU junior.

The University is not taking it lightly. Health officials put together a "wellness team," educating faculty how to prevent the spread of flu. It's the old adage to fight a new strain: frequent hand washing, keeping a distance of at least six feet away from people who are sick and avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose.

Nixa schools did the same thing and plan to educate kids about flu prevention much earlier this year.

"I have a child with a compromised immune system at home so I've discussed it a lot with his pediatrician and his transplant team and the regular flu will be just as serious for him as swine flu will," said Pam Johnson, mother of three.

Locally health officials say they have every reason to believe the swine flu is just like the regular flu, the symptoms are the same but there is still the fear of the unknown.

"We're just very adamant about hand wash, sanitize. It's wash, wash, wash those hands everybody," said Johnson.

Since swine flu is predominant in young people universities will be among the first to receive the vaccine in mid-October. There are two doses you have to take three weeks apart in addition to your regular flu vaccination.