Flu virus invades campus
Health Services, experienced students give advice on how how to keep it at bay
Sabrina Frank
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Trinity Life
Flu season, which generally begins in November and ends in March, has greately effected the Trinity campus. With students in such close proximity with one another, the flu has been spreading across campus. Thankfully, Health Services has helped many conquer the virus.
Missy Whitter, a registered nurse from Health Services, said "The best way to prevent getting the flu is to get a flu shot, though that doesn't guarantee anything. We had the flu shots available since October. We do not have any more flu shots available, but we do have the flu mists available."
Flu mists work the same way as flu shots, except that a mist is sprayed up the nose instead of receiving a shot. Flu mists at the Health Services Center cost $25.
For people who have not received the flu shot or flu mist, Whitter suggests that students stay away from those people who have the flu, wash their hands very well, gargle with Listerine and try to make sure others cover their cough.
The Health Services Center has been seeing "mostly flu-like syndromes. We are also seeing some people with strep throat and mono," Whitter said.
When a student has the flu, Whitter explained, "you need to not go to class while you are still running a fever; you should not go to class until you are fever-free for 24 hours … We have masks [available] here at health services … [Drink] lots of fluids, and [take a] lot of vitamin C especially, and also alternate between ibuprofen and Tylenol for your fever. Sleep is the best thing you can do."
Students with severe colds or negative flu tests must talk to their professors themselves about missing class or rescheduling tests.
"Mucinex DM for your cough is a good over-the-counter medicine that we recommend [if you have the flu,] and if you come in to see us then we can recommend other medicines for you. We can give you a flu letter, which is a letter you can give to your professors to keep you out of class. But you have to have a positive flu test in order to get a flu letter," Whitter said.
Missy Whitter, a registered nurse from Health Services, said "The best way to prevent getting the flu is to get a flu shot, though that doesn't guarantee anything. We had the flu shots available since October. We do not have any more flu shots available, but we do have the flu mists available."
Flu mists work the same way as flu shots, except that a mist is sprayed up the nose instead of receiving a shot. Flu mists at the Health Services Center cost $25.
For people who have not received the flu shot or flu mist, Whitter suggests that students stay away from those people who have the flu, wash their hands very well, gargle with Listerine and try to make sure others cover their cough.
The Health Services Center has been seeing "mostly flu-like syndromes. We are also seeing some people with strep throat and mono," Whitter said.
When a student has the flu, Whitter explained, "you need to not go to class while you are still running a fever; you should not go to class until you are fever-free for 24 hours … We have masks [available] here at health services … [Drink] lots of fluids, and [take a] lot of vitamin C especially, and also alternate between ibuprofen and Tylenol for your fever. Sleep is the best thing you can do."
Students with severe colds or negative flu tests must talk to their professors themselves about missing class or rescheduling tests.
"Mucinex DM for your cough is a good over-the-counter medicine that we recommend [if you have the flu,] and if you come in to see us then we can recommend other medicines for you. We can give you a flu letter, which is a letter you can give to your professors to keep you out of class. But you have to have a positive flu test in order to get a flu letter," Whitter said.
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