Flu season invites individual prevention
The flu season is here.
The first cases of the flu are already hitting the Wasatch Front, and Utah State University students can take certain precautions to help prevent themselves from catching it this year.
Kate Jaeger, associate at Johnston Wells in Denver, Colo., said, “The flu season has arrived, but there hasn’t been an outbreak yet.”
Jim Davis, director of the Student Health Services, said getting your vaccination, avoiding people who are ill, washing your hands and practicing good health are several steps students can take to lower their chances of catching the flu.
Influenza shots are available for $10 in the Student Health and Wellness Center, located at 850 E. 1200 North. Flu shots will also be given on campus for $10 Nov. 20 and Dec. 5 in the Juniper Lounge at the Taggart Student Center.
Carol Morrell, registered nurse at the Bear River Health Clinic, said, “Flu shots are very effective in the younger population. Vaccinations protect 90 percent of healthy, young adults.”
The best time to get a flu shot is from early October to mid-November. The shot can be given at any point during the flu season, even if the virus has already begun to spread in the community. Flu shots need to be taken every year because the virus is constantly changing. New vaccines are developed annually to protect against new strains, according to www.lungusa.org.
Students can log on to www.flustar.com to determine the location and spread of influenza in local areas across the country. Flustar is a new surveillance system that allows consumers to know when the flu has hit an area and to seek medical attention earlier, according to the site.
Davis said the flu spreads wherever a lot of people congregate, such as dormitories or college campuses in general. It’s usually the worst in January, when students are coming back to school.
Morrell said, “There are no cases yet [in Logan]. The peak is December through March. The best thing to do if you think you have the flu is to stay home. Don’t try to be Superman and go to class. Get your rest and drink plenty of fluids.”
A mild case of the flu may seem a lot like an ordinary cold. But more often than not, symptoms appear suddenly and may include a temperature of 101 F or above, cough, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, chills and fatigue. Most people recover from the flu within one or two weeks, according to lungusa.org.
Jaeger said, “I recommend that if you do notice that you have the flu, that you go to your campus doctor within 48 hours.”
There are several treatments available to reduce duration of the illness, such as, oseltamivir, zanamivir, amantadine and rimantadine. These are the generic names for brands like Tamiflu and Flumadine.
The flu virus is spread through respiratory droplets in the air when someone sneezes, coughs or speaks. If the droplets are inhaled, the virus grows in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of the lungs. The flu affects other parts of the body. Sometimes it is spread by direct contact, according to www.lungusa.org.
-mmackay@cc.usu.edu