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Seasonal Flu Arrives on Campus

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Susan Pruitt

Editor-in-Chief

 

 
 Image Courtesy of HealthyArkansas.com
Get Your Shot! - The Arkansas Department of Health recommends infected individuals to stay home from school or work in order to prevent spreading the seasonal flu to others. For more information on the flu, contact the ADH at 1-800-651-3493.

   With 5 to 20 percent of the population expected to get seasonal influenza, students still believe their chances of contracting the flu to be next to none.

   Terri Richardson, director of Student Health Services, said many students on the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus have already been diagnosed with seasonal influenza. The Arkansas Department of Health recommends infected individuals to stay home from school or work to prevent spreading the flu to others.

   "I've never had regular flu a day in my life and never had a flu shot. I somehow always missed that bug," Megan Prescott, a history major, said. 

   In week 41, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,855 specimens tested positive for influenza. Forty-six states reported widespread influenza activity and the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza ranged above the epidemic threshold. The CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.

   Kasey Medlin, an art major, said she didn't plan on getting the seasonal influenza vaccine.

   "I feel that people over react and Americans are too trusting of Western medicine," Medlin said.

 

Influenza Vaccine

 

   The CDC said side effects of the seasonal influenza vaccine include:

  • Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given
  • Low grade fever
  • Aches

 

   Despite these side effects, Richardson said she thought the flu vaccine was worth the possible side effects.

   “Historically, the seasonal flu vaccine has been estimated to be between 70 to 90 percent effective every year.  It’s worth the shot to me,” Richardson said.    

  
   Richardson said the top five reasons to get the seasonal influenza vaccine include:

  • it reduces the number of episodes of upper respiratory illness

  • it reduces days of sick leave from work due to upper respiratory illness

  • it reduces work/school absenteeism

  • it reduces physician office visits for upper respiratory illness

  • it reduces antibiotic use for influenza-associated illnesses

 

 Symptoms of Influenza

 

   Richardson said symptoms of the flu include:

  • fever
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • body aches
  • headache
  • chills
  • fatigue

 

    If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact Terri Richardson, director of Student Health Services, at 460-1051 to set up an appointment. Available hours include Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

   To view the first installment of this health series on H1N1, please click here. Please look for the next installment of this health series on the common cold in the next issue.

  

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