Radford University is no exception to the severity of this season’s flu. Living, eating and interacting in such close quarters is a primary reason for college students to be concerned about the flu. RU’s health center was busier than ever right before the holidays. Constantly ringing phones and a crowded waiting room were not uncommon.

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“Every other person we saw seemed to have the flu before Christmas,” said Dr. Steve Beese of the RU health center.

Not only were students coming in for flu treatment, but for prevention, as well. The health center was providing flu shots to students for a small fee, until they ran out at the end of last semester.

“Quite a few students came in for the shot. The sign up list was always full, and once the flu started getting worse, more and more started coming in,” said Beese.

According to health center officials, the flu seems to have died down in the past few weeks.

“We’ve only seen a few students for the flu this semester,” said Beese.

The health center is still out of the flu shot, but officials say students who would still like to get one should contact the Radford health department, since they just got in a new batch.

Beese says that although it’s nearing the end of flu season, it’s still advised to get a shot because there could still be another spike in the number of cases in the next three months. The shot will begin to protect you about two weeks after receiving it.

Flu shots need to be gotten every year because the flu strains change every year. Shot manufacturers try to match the strain to the new one, but don’t always get it exactly right, as with this past year.

The flu drifted this year from its usual A and B strains, which were contained in the shot, to a new Fujian strain. This wasn’t anticipated, so no shots were manufactured that included this strain. This means that no shots completely protected anyone this season, helping the flu reach the severity it did.

“Getting a shot of a different strain can still provide some protection. It won’t make you completely immune, but it’s still recommended,” said Beese.
People who haven’t had a shot and don’t plan to get one should remember a few things to help avoiding catching it.

- Wash your hands as much as possible, for at least 20 seconds, to kill all germs.
- Minimize contact with people who have the flu.
- Eat healthy.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Keep stress levels low.
- Pay attention to updates from local health officials.

Flu Myths
1. Having the flu once in a season doesn’t mean you can’t catch it again! The strains constantly change, and you’re only protected from the old ones.
2. The flu is NOT a more severs version of a cold! They are two completely different viruses.
3. Antibiotics will NOT cure the flu! They can only help the complications that come along with an infection, and still won’t begin to relieve symptoms for about a week.
4. Getting a flu shot will NOT give you the flu! Research has been done on this, and you may get minor side effects such as sniffles, but not the actual virus.

For more information on influenza and how to prevent it, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/flu/

For more information on the Fujian flu strain, visit www.region.york.on.ca/Services/Public+Health+and+Safety/Infectious+Diseases/Fujian+Flu.htm