ISU Bengal

Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Fowers, Cody

What kills twice as many Americans as HIV/AIDS? What is second only to stress as a reason for students withdrawing from class? It is influenza, or commonly called the flu. The flu is very contagious and is caused by the influenza virus. This virus can be spread by coughing or sneezing.
Students live in close quarters with other students and are very close to fellow students throughout the day, being on a college campus. This can increase the chance of getting viruses such as the flu.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the symptoms and effects of the influenza virus are a fever, chills, fatigue and a cough. However, depending on the person, the symptoms can be even worse, resulting in high fever and seizures in children.
Each year, 226,000 people are hospitalized for influenza. Also, influenza can lead to pneumonia, which is even more serious. Actress Nicole DeHuff, who played the sister of Ben Stiller's girlfriend in Meet the Parents, died in 2005 of pneumonia.
So how can one protect him/herself from the influenza virus? The answer is simple. Get a flu shot.
There are actually two types of flu shots that someone can get. One type of influenza vaccine is called the inactivated (killed) vaccine, most commonly known as the "flu shot," and is injected into the arm. The other form of vaccine is the live, attenuated (weakened) vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils.
It is recommended that a person gets a flu shot every year because the influenza vaccine is updated yearly. However, once vaccinated, the protection from the shot can last for up to a year.
It is best to get the influenza shot in October or November, if possible, but getting the shot in December or later can still help lessen one's chances of getting the flu.
One myth is that if someone is healthy, then they do not need the flu vaccine. It is less likely that a person with a strong immune system will catch the flu, but it is important to protect those around them, such as children and the elderly, who are more likely to get the flu. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 36,000 people die annually from the flu, and most of those people are 65 years or older. Therefore, if someone is around elderly or small children, it is imperative to get the flu vaccine.
Another myth is that the side effects of the shot are worse than the flu itself. This is not true. For the most part, the worst side effect is a sore arm.
LPN nurse Lynell Harmon works in the ISU Student Health Center. She said, "A lot of people have come in this year for flu shots. Students are stressed out and don't eat well, so they have weak immune systems. Getting a flu shot decreases your chance of getting the flu." The flu shot only costs 20 dollars at the Student Health Center for students and will protect a person for up to a year.
Let us face it; it is almost Finals Week and the end of the semester. The last thing a student wants is to miss finals because they are sick in bed with the flu or pneumonia. Go protect yourself and help protect others by getting the flu vaccination.
For more information on influenza, pneumonia and the influenza vaccine, visit the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc. gov.flu or call 800-CDC-INFO.

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