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Fear of the Flu

by Rachel Burke

The flu season isn’t over yet and there have already been 84 flu-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the past four years, the highest number of flu related deaths was in the 2014-2015 flu season with 148 deaths.

Although it is scary that people are dying from the flu, it is avoidable by taking several preventative measures. The CDC highlights getting vaccinated as one of the best preventative measures. However, additional steps to preventing the flu at home include frequently washing your hands and avoiding sick people since the flu is highly contagious and can be spread from as close as six feet away. Now that the weather is getting cold (well, at least most of the time) people are staying inside more and are interacting more closely with each other in warm, hot spaces. This makes it easier to pass germs to one another.

Do your best to eliminate your own germs and keep yourself clean from the germs of others.

The most important thing to remember during flu season is to stay home if you have the flu. It is inconsiderate and possibly dangerous to go out and spread the flu to the public. Some babies who are too young to be vaccinated could catch the flu and suffer serious health consequences. Some people in general might not have the vaccination and could contract the virus. Sophomore secondary history education major Sam Cranmer revealed that she got very sick over winter break and had the flu. “I missed going out on New Year’s,” she said, “but I didn’t want to get anybody else sick.”

The scary part about the flu is that you could start spreading it before you even know you have it. The CDC outlines these specific groups of people that are more susceptible to flu complications: “people with chronic medical conditions, children younger than five years old, patients 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, Native Americans and pregnant women.” The complications could be bacterial infections, pneumonia and cardiac abnormalities.

In this flu season, make sure not to spread your germs to others.

There are antibiotics for the flu. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs are Rapivab, Relenza and Tamiflu. These are available by prescription. The FDA states, “Prompt medical evaluation is important for early treatment of influenza as the antiviral drugs may provide the most benefit for patients who initiate therapy within 48 hours of symptom onset.” There are also over-the-counter drugs that can alleviate symptoms, but that does not mean it stops being contagious, so it’s best to stay in the house until the virus goes away.

Vaccination is key to preventing your chances of getting the flu. The CDC only recommends injectable flu shots during the current flu season, not the nasal spray. The options are standard dose flu shots, high dose flu shots, shots with adjuvant, shots made with virus grown in cell culture and the recombinant vaccine which does not require the use of flu virus. High dose shots and shots with adjuvant are CDC-recommended for older people. Stay safe this flu season, and help keep others safe as well.

If you have the flu, stay in bed like Spencer does all day long.

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