With 66 laboratory-confirmed cases of flu among students at NC State as of a week ago, the flu season is affecting NC State and the state of North Carolina more than usual this year.
Dr. Julie Casani, Student Health Services’ medical director, commented that the flu is widespread this year and regarded as bad as last year. North Carolina is one of the greatest impacted states this year with 67 flu-associated deaths so far this season.
Casani commented on how the flu is able to quickly spread through close quarter environments, like a university, which poses a risk for students. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu spreads from person to person via droplets in the air when people sneeze, cough or talk. These droplets can travel up to 6 feet which can easily reach across the average dorm room or spread across the average NC State classroom.
“The entire university is close quarters, in classrooms, dining and residence halls,” Casani said.
Casani mentioned that one of the best ways to help prevent the spread of flu is to wash your hands on a regular basis. Other effective ways to prevent the spread of the flu include avoiding close contact with sick people, covering your coughs and sneezes and avoiding repeated contact with your eyes, nose or mouth, according to the CDC.
“Washing, washing [your hands] again and washing them some more,” Casani said.
Even though it is mid-flu season Casani noted that if students still haven’t received a flu vaccine it could still be helpful. Unfortunately, flu vaccines are never 100 percent effective, due to the large number of strains in which vaccines might have to protect against.
Casani explained that vaccines are actually designed in the spring based on the most prevalent flu strains in the southern hemisphere and other factors. This also means doctors cannot be certain they are protecting against the right kinds of flu strains months in advance. However, Casani confirmed that of the 66 laboratory confirmed cases of flu among students, about 85 percent of them had not received the flu vaccine. The vaccine prevents the flu between 40 to 60 percent of the time on average.
“It actually wasn’t a bad vaccine. Forty to 50 percent isn’t bad, and there are various reasons for that,” Casani said.
Students at NC State have noticed the impact that the flu season takes on their ability to be productive when they feel under the weather. Jasmine Roberts, a first-year studying psychology, has been under the weather for about a week and also admitted to not receiving a flu vaccine.
“Being sick has affected my school work, in that I lack concentration because I’m always too busy blowing my nose,” Roberts said.
Laura Mabe, first-year studying psychology, has also been feeling ill and is still recovering from it. She noticed that she has been much less productive especially with school work over the past few days.
“I’ve been too busy trying to recover so my productivity has shrunk by a lot over the past few days,” Mabe said.
NC State is presenting ways to help combat the effects of flu season on students. NC State Dining has created Get Well Meal Kits which contain soft and dry foods as well as plenty of fluids for students who feel unable to leave their room. Students can order Get Well Meal Kits online and have a friend or roommate pick it up from a C-Store for them. Student Health Services is also continuing to offer flu vaccines either by appointment or at the pharmacy through the week.
