Just the other day, one of my friends and I entered a crowded classroom filled with socializing students, free coffee and small finger-foods. After getting our refreshments, we stood in the corner of the room, chatting with a couple of our other friends who were also enjoying the fresh brew and snacks. After a few minutes of small talk, my friend let out a small cough, and I jokingly said, apparently too loud, “Oh yeah, he has the flu!”
Heads turned quickly towards us, and the room fell silent.
“I’m only kidding everyone!” I said, nervously laughing off the awkwardness that had saturated the air.
Lesson learned: Don’t say “flu” in a social setting.
***
Influenza, or more commonly known as the flu, has taken Union University by storm, leaving many students out of commission for several days. The most common symptoms of the respiratory virus are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue. The flu season, which is when the virus is most active, can begin as early as October and run as late as May, with December and February being peak months for infection.
Paul Mayer, MSN, director of Health Services at Union University, has seen a high number of students come in with flu-like symptoms the past month.
“I am seeing three times the number of patients in a day than what I normally see,” Mayer said. “The best estimate we have received, based on data collected by Resident Life, was about 6.5% of the student population had the flu, or flu-like symptoms.”
Josh Kasper, a junior graphic design major, was one of those students.
“It was pretty bad,” Kasper said. “It was like a cold on steroids.”
Every year, the virus can take on many different strains, causing different complications for each flu season. This year, the particular strain of the influenza virus is H3N2, which Mayer claimed is not only causing problems for the elderly but also the very young.
“It is also affecting younger, healthier people, causing complications such as pneumonia, and even hospitalization for serious, life-threatening illnesses,” Mayer said.
The flu is very contagious, and since it is an airborne, viral infection, it is easy to come into contact with throughout the day.
“I’m in the graphics lab all the time, and I use a lot of shared computers, so I most likely got sick from that,” Kasper said.
The best way to prevent the flu is to get a yearly vaccine, which protects against up to 3 or 4 different viral strains.
“Vaccination is the best way,” said Mayer.
Frequent hand washing, avoiding contact with sick people and keeping your hands away from your eyes and mouth are also effective ways to limit the risk for flu infection.
“If you are sick this time of year, it is probably not just a cold. It’s probably not a sinus infection. Chances are you have influenza,” Mayer said. “Don’t be around others. It is the neighborly thing to do. It is unkind to expose others to your illness.”
If you begin feeling sick or believe that you are having flu-like symptoms, do not go to class or Coburn, and make an appointment with Health Services. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can call and make an appointment at 731-661-5284 or email Elizabeth Baker, clinic assistant, at ebaker@uu.edu.
