The impending start of the fall season next month brings with it the beginning of something else too; something constant and unyielding in its annual appearance: the sick season. This year, like all other years, is bound have at least two or three headlines take over the news describing the nasty new outbreak of some terrible flu or virus or whatever else that’s waiting to take the country by storm.
We’re already seeing it now, before we have yet to even leave these summer months. The CDC has reported a major measles outbreak in 21 states, including, of course, North Carolina. Measles is a highly infectious disease with a checklist of symptoms that might not even appear until weeks after infection.
Germs can spread anywhere and everywhere, and it can be hard to control their rapid spread through air and water, and across surfaces. There are few places, though, where that’s more true than on a college campus. It’s pretty easy to see how a couple thousand kids jam-packed shoulder-to-shoulder into some relatively small classrooms and residence halls might be a recipe for disaster. This is why it’s essential that students keep strong sanitary habits, distance themselves from potentially unhygienic environments, and quarantine themselves if they begin to feel ill.
NC State is no stranger to outbreaks of various types of bugs. Just last year, we saw a big Norovirus outbreak in Alexander hall in December with around 60 confirmed cases, and multiple cases of the ever-threatening influenza in the early spring semester. Campuses are vulnerable to everything from the aforementioned measles, influenza, and norovirus, to strep throat and meningitis.
Director and Medical Director of Student Health Julie Casani describes Student Health’s strategy as both preparing before an outbreak hits, and ready to respond when one does. She explained, “We check immunizations when students come to campus their first year– this works to assure a level of immunity for vaccine preventable illnesses such as measles and mumps.” She added that during an outbreak, their plan is to “isolate those that are ill and provide prevention strategies for those in close contact.”
The problem is that, often, we simply just don’t take the precautions necessary to avoid both contracting illnesses ourselves, and to limit the spread to others. One survey conducted by the Bradley Corporation found that only two thirds of respondents claimed to have washed their hands at least once a day. This startling statistic worries me that the environment around me is even dirtier and unsanitary than I had previously thought.
Of course, there are more precautions that can be taken besides just handwashing. Steps can also be taken to limit your contact with dirty surfaces. Microbiologist Charles Gerba told Time that some surfaces like bathroom hand-towels and cell phones are among the dirtiest common objects we handle daily. In addition, there are plenty of other regularly-touched surfaces that we have contact with almost every day. Desk surfaces, public computers, and paper money are all regularly touched items that can become havens for disease quickly, and must be regularly sanitized or carefully handled.
There are additional priorities than just minimizing the risk of infection for ourselves. We also need to be on the lookout of spreading our various germs to those around us. There are, of course, plenty of well-known tips that most have probably heard too many times by now: cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, wash your hands, don’t double dip, and so on.
However, there are other actions that must be taken to avoid passing your sickness to others. The biggest one is staying up-to-date on your vaccinations. I know it may seem like you don’t have any time to get a flu shot in Talley during the fall, but the consequences of catching influenza make the vaccine a necessity. Director Casani urges students to do so, as “it provides herd immunity.” She added “the more people immunized, the more roadblocks for person-to-person transmission, and the less likely the outbreak will happen.”
And, of course, there is more than just one reason why people tell you to stay home when you’re sick. While it can difficult to catch back up on all your work when you’re out, it can prevent the spread of illnesses to others, and give you some much-needed rest.
I can attest, colleges can be home to some brutal viruses. It’s almost impossible to completely avoid getting sick during your time at college. But there are plenty of measures that you can take to make sure you and those around you can minimize your sick days.
