Runny noses, coughing fits and high fevers have been taking over students as the influenza rages through Eugene.
The University Health Center has administered more than 2,000 flu shots during fall term, Assistant Director of Nursing Sharon Harbert said.
“It’s going to be quite a severe flu season,” she said, adding that in her 24 years at the health center, she has never seen a flu epidemic hit as early as it has this year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, the flu is a highly infectious disease of the lungs that can lead to pneumonia.
Every year in the United States, approximately 114,000 people are hospitalized, and around 36,000 people die because of the flu. The majority of people who die are more than 65 years old, but children younger than 2 years old can also be hit hard.
Harbert said getting a flu shot is one solution to keeping students and staff as healthy as possible.
University junior Sonja Greene hasn’t had a flu shot since she moved out of her parents house, but said she is debating getting one this year because of the amount of people getting sick.
“Everywhere I turn, someone new has the flu,” she said. “At work, in class, at home. It’s almost frightening.”
There is no reason for the rapid onset of this year’s flu season, Harbert said. In years past, people generally get hit the hardest directly after the holiday break.
Lane County Health and Human Services Nursing Supervisor Betsy Meredith also noticed the early start of flu season.
“The bottom line is that the flu is here,” she said.
Meredith also recommended getting a flu shot, especially since the CDC has identified the flu strain that has been traveling across the country, and the flu vaccination protects against a similar strain.
Something to remember about flu shots, though, is that they may not always be 100 percent effective, Harbert said. She advised students to keep healthy by using good hygiene methods, getting enough sleep, eating healthy and relaxing.
“The way to keep the immune system strong is to keep our life in balance,” Harbert said.
University freshman Charles Taylor said one reason he isn’t getting a flu shot is because of his concern about possible side effects.
According to the CDC Web site, the most common side effect is a sore arm. But Harbert pointed out that no students have complained about flu shot after-effects this year.
“Nobody to my knowledge has had a bad reaction,” Harbert said.
Meredith said that when a person gets a flu shot for the first time ever, he or she may feel slightly ill for a couple of days, but a flu shot can’t infect anyone with the flu.
“You cannot catch the flu from a flu shot,” she said.
It’s not too late for people to get vaccinated. The University Health Center is offering flu shots to students for $10, which can be billed to a student account. Students can go to the health center Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. University faculty and staff can get flu shots Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for $18.50.
Lane County Health and Human Services is also offering flu shots Wednesday mornings between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. for $17.
For more information on the
flu, visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov.