Swine flu is becoming increasingly more popular world-wide with the media deeming it a pandemic. While New York has been coming up with new actions against H1N1, what is Columbia University doing for their students? CTV News sat down with Vice President of Student Services, Scott Wright, and Director of Primary Care Medical services, Mary Fershneider, to see what's being done.

"The new strain seems to be very easily, very contagious, people can catch it very easily, but it tends to be very mild," explained Mary Fershneider, Director of Primary Care Medical Services. "And I think that is the important thing for people to remember. People who are at risk are those who have underlying medical conditions."

Vice President of Student Services, Scott Wright, set the precautions as he said, "We are asking people to stay in their room and if they are in contact with other people to wear masks provided in the flu kit, to take their temperature and not go back into the community until 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal."

"We're offering free flu vaccines to the entire Columbia community and we are doing it in these different fairs we set up around campus. All of the dates are posted on the website. The first one is scheduled for October 6th in Lerner Hall. We are prepared to receive a high turn out this year and we hope that is the case," said Fershneider.

Health Services is advising students to take more safety precautions against the disease but how are the Columbia student reacting?

"Um, so, as long as I don't have, like, a cold already, I think I'll be all right."

"I thought it was like any old flu."

"I'm not really so much worried about the swine flu. I guess we should be."

"At the moment it has a very low mortality rate so there doesn't seem to be anything special about the swine flu which makes it not any more deadly than the other version of influenza."

For more information on the flu shot and how to prepare yourself for H1N1 and the flu season please go to the Columbia website. For CTV News, I'm Michelle Yuan.