Documented cases of the flu at both the University of Oregon and in Lane County have decreased substantially over the past year, contrary to national trends.
The flu has claimed the lives of 37 children in the United States this flu season, which is more than the death toll of the swine flu epidemic of 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, at the University of Oregon and in Lane County, the flu is not nearly as severe.
According to University Health Center doctor Richard Brunader, there were a reported 73 cases of the flu at UO last year. This flu season there have only been a reported 20 cases. But health officials at the University Health Center are still urging students to get flu shots.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, according to Brunader. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, aches and fatigue and can cause students to miss several days of classes.
The University Health Center offered five mass vaccinations last fall to keep students healthy and are thinking of expanding the building and its services to better serve students.
“I think it was a lot worse last year even though that’s not what the national statistics are showing,” Brunader said of the decrease in reported cases.
This trend is present in Lane County as a whole as well. According to Jason Davis, Lane County Health and Human Services public information officer, the number of flu-related deaths in Lane County has decreased from 17 deaths last season to two deaths this season.

The decrease in flu victims may be a result of the number of vaccinated residents in Lane County going up significantly from last season. According to Davis, approximately 35 percent of Lane County was vaccinated last year while over 40 percent was vaccinated this year.
Though the flu has had a substantial national impact, the University Health Center has not been any busier than a normal flu season, according to Brunader.
However, some national services available to students have been negatively impacted by the high volumes of flu patients.
For example, the health center’s after-hours nurse advice line has fallen victim to mass call volumes caused by the flu.
The health center warns students of high call volume when students call in, and it takes several hours for the nurses to respond with advice and help.
Brunader said it is common around this time of year for the health center to be overbooked with appointments and that they are working to address the overflow issues through possible expansions, like an “acute care” center that can address health center overflow.
The health center is proposing expansions at the Board of Trustees meeting on March 1 and 2.
“The concept is to have an area that can [act like an] accordion and can run somewhat independent from the clinic,”  Brunader said, meaning that it would become available as needed and shut down during slower periods.
The health center is also increasing its student health center service fee by $7 under the university’s proposed tuition increases in order to fund more health and counseling services.
In the meantime, the health center has been working to educate students on the potential dangers of contracting the flu and urging them to get vaccinated.
The health center has been advertising “Duck the flu” since 2005 to inform students to get their flu shots and stay healthy through flu season.
Angela Long, director of health prevention services, said it is imperative for students to get their flu shot.
“The more students and staff who have flu shots, the better protection there is,” Long said.
According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2010 to 2014, the flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu-associated death by nearly 65 percent in children with no underlying health conditions.
If you think you have the flu, it is important to get plenty of rest and avoid contact with others, according to Brunader. If you experience difficulty breathing, dizziness, confusion or severe vomiting you should seek medical care urgently, Brunader said.