Despite the rising number of flu cases during the last month of the season, students at MSU aren’t afraid of contracting the virus.
“I haven’t gotten the flu shot and probably won’t get it until I’ve gotten the flu once,” computer science freshman Katie Spear said. “I just don’t see a need for it.”
About 14 percent of the specimens sent to a nationwide network of labs tested positive for influenza, a human respiratory infection of undetermined cause, in mid-January, up from 4 percent in early December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
The flu kills roughly 20,000 Americans each year. The CDC judges the severity of a flu season based on reports from doctors and labs across the country and records from 122 U.S. cities. The figure usually rises to at least 25 percent before flu season peaks in February or March.
The flu is a contagious disease caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms include: Fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.
Flu season starts in December or January and can last until early March.
Dr. Beth Alexander, a university physician, said flu season was predicted to be early this year.
“We didn’t have a particularly bad flu season, only a mild fall,” Alexander said. “I don’t think we had a true influenza season here this year.”
Alexander said the best time to get the flu vaccine, which lasts through one flu season, is in late October or early November. The shot costs $12.50 at Olin Health Center.
The CDC reported there are 10 million doses of the flu vaccine still available in the United States and urged health care providers to offer them through February, especially to the elderly and chronically ill.
Olin Physician Dr. Glynda Moorer said unlike last year, there is no delay or shortage of vaccines.
“Last year, manufacturers had difficulties reproducing the virus for the vaccine, which caused a delay in shipment,” Moorer said. “This year, the shipment was right on time and there are still vaccines available.”
Moorer said there are usually minimal side effects of the flu shot, which can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Influenza can be spread through sneezing, coughing or talking, which send the virus into the air.
The virus enters the nose, throat, or lungs of a person and begins to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu. Moorer also said some ways to prevent the flu are hand-washing, using tissue and drinking fluids.
Moorer said if flu symptoms are caught within 24 to 48 hours of infection, antibiotics may be prescribed by a health care provider to shorten the duration and decrease the severity of the virus.
“There may be achiness in the arm of the injection or mild generalized body aches,” Moorer said.
“Flu symptoms are also more severe than head cold symptoms. They include a higher fever, fatigue, weakness and prevention from resuming normal everyday activities, like class or work.”
General business sophomore Brandon Sweeney had the flu once, but won’t get the vaccine this season.
“I had a headache, I was tired, very sick,” Sweeney said. “I was pretty much out of it for a day or so.”
“I had to take over-the-counter meds, but I’m not really scared of getting it again.”
