Since the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 10, 295 students have been treated for flu-like symptoms at Student Health Services.
According to the information compiled by Student Health Services, almost all of the 295 students treated by Student Health Services with flu symptoms since the beginning of the new semester did not receive the flu vaccine this winter.
Influenza is more commonly known as the flu and is a contagious respiratory disease which is caused by viruses. According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, the flu attacks a person’s nose, throat and lungs. Flu usually attacks a person suddenly.
According to the Student Health Services, flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, runny and congested nose, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The flu can be spread either by contact with a sick person or a “sick thing,” according to Student Health Services.
A sick person spreads the flu by droplets from their nose, mouth or cough. A “sick thing” is a thing that has been contaminated by a sick person.
According to the information from Student Health Services, people sick with flu can be contagious a day before symptoms are apparent and for a week or more after symptoms. They are considered more contagious during the days they have fever.
A person sick with the flu is advised to stay away from other people until they have gone at least 24 hours without a fever without taking fever medicine.
According to Student Health, the flu virus can live on hands for as long as 20 minutes.
The vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the flu virus, according to Student Health. A single dose, either a shot or nasal, takes two weeks to be effective.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, there are two main types of influenza. The three strains most likely to circulate during the 2010-2011 season are influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2), and an influenza B virus. All of these strains were included in the 2010-2011 flu vaccine.
