Images of sneezing children flit across the television screen; news channels play and replay clips of people receiving flu shots. It’s flu season, VCU, and this one’s going to be rough.
According to CNN, the season started earlier than usual, and cases are worse.
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 47 states reported “widespread” influenza activity, as shown in this graphic. While this week marks a slight decline in the scope of the national view of the outbreak, some claim not all states have peaked yet. Virginia is one of the states reporting widespread activity. This means outbreaks of laboratory-confirmed influenza have increased in over half the regions of the state.
In the close quarters of a college campus, we all know how one cough in the back of a lecture hall can spread like wildfire and leave half the room sniffling by the end of the week. With the threat of absences and missed work loom overhead, getting sick is one inconvenience many of us cannot really afford.
However, VCU has your back. Student Health Services offers free flu shots to enrolled students. They encourage students to get the vaccine at any time—it is not too late. The vaccine can either prevent the illness entirely, or reduce the severity of your symptoms.
Student Health says flu symptoms resemble a cold, but are much more severe and come on rapidly. For most, the treatment is allowing the virus to run its course (7-10 days) and staying as comfortable as possible: focusing on rest, fluids, and painkillers to bring down fever. Student Health recommends staying home until your fever is gone to help avoid spreading the virus to others. If you do not improve or symptoms worsen, they urge students to seek professional attention.
Most of us would rather prevent the virus than suffer through the recovery. For VCU students, this means frequent hand-washing and sanitizing, especially in places where computers and other items are shared. Try not to touch your face after you have been in contact with surfaces others have touched, like desks, chairs, and doorknobs. It is also a good idea to avoid sick people—your friends will understand. Vitamin C and other immune-boosters can’t hurt your chances to stay well, either.
VCU student Kevin David speaks about his plan to fight the flu. “I try my hardest to eat properly, including all of those supposedly nasty fruits and vegetables our mothers used to make us eat,” David said. “A healthy lifestyle extends its benefits even into flu season.”
In addition to avoiding the carriers, at least for a little while, David champions the value of “diet, exercise and relaxation.”
Looking for more ways to beat this flu season? Check out this Health Magazine article.