| Prepare
Yourself for Flu Season
By Kate Schoen
Last Friday, people gathered at the School
of Public Health to learn about pandemic
flu. Health Officials such as Peter Reinhardt
say a widespread bird flu is not yet likely,
because the virus is not easily transmitted.
But it’s still important to be prepared.
“We have done quite a bit of planning.
We’re very much prepared. We’re
very along the lines of being ready for
a pandemic,” Reinhardt said.
But students don’t seem concerned
by the lingering threat. To some, pandemic
flu is worlds away.
“I guess it does worry me for the
sake of the health of people around the
world, but I don’t feel personally
threatened by it,” said graduate
student Tracy Hadden.
But you should feel threatened by seasonal
flu. Every year, an influenza virus is
in full force from October until March.
It spreads through the air by sneezing
and coughing, and also through contact
with infected surfaces.
Protect yourself by doing simple things.
Wash your hands, cover your mouth when
you cough, and use a tissue when you sneeze.
But the very best thing to do is get vaccinated.
“Some people try to avoid it, but
it’s a lot better than getting the
flu,” Reinhardt said.
Students can soon line up for the vaccine
at Campus Health Services. No word yet
about how much will be available. So look
out for an email with all the details.
“But there will be some other avenues
as well. I know the School of Pharmacy
has students that are going to put on a
flu clinic,” Reinhardt said.
And if you do have to wait, it’s
still worth getting the vaccine later in
the season.
“Even into mid-January they’ll
still be offered and they’ll still
be valuable to people if they haven’t
gotten them yet,” said Reinhardt.
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