The Student Health Center has seen a rise in on-campus influenza cases in the past few weeks. More students have been diagnosed with Influenza Strand A at the health center, said Mendy Escudier, University health center registered nurse. Although this flu season is more active, Escudier said there is no need for alarm. She said the season is more active than normal but not “out of the box.” This flu season is comparable to the 2003 flu season. Although some University students said they saw a general increase in the amount of sick peers, they were generally apathetic at the news of the increase of diagnosed flu cases on campus. “It doesn’t bother me because I’ve never had the flu,” said Lauren Pharr, anthropology graduate student. Pharr said the rise in the flu virus “sucks for those who get it.” Some students who noticed an increase in the amount of sick peers were bothered by their presence in the classroom. “I understand why they come [to class], but at the same time it puts others at risk,” said Leigh Boyer, psychology junior. Boyer also said her peers’ coughing disturbs not only her but them too. Escudier said the flu vaccine the Health Center administered this past October has proven 55 percent effective against the current strand. Some students were not reassured by this rate. “It’s a pretty low number, and I don’t feel like standing in line for a 50 percent chance of not getting the flu,” said Brittany Inlow, nutrition studies senior. Escudier said it’s too late for students to receive flu vaccines now because it takes two weeks for the vaccine to be effective. She said the Health Center is no longer offering preventive flu shots but do so annually during flu week held in October. Some students aren’t worried. “I haven’t got my shot yet, but I don’t know anyone whose gotten the flu,” said Jacob Grosskopf, paleontology graduate student. Students said to prevent catching illnesses they wash their hands, eat healthy and carry antibacterial hand gel with them. Escudier said sick students should cover their coughs and sneeze into their elbows to prevent spreading germs. She also said students should not eat or drink behind one another.
—-Contact Allen Womble at [email protected]