A massive flu epidemic is sweeping across the country, causing many people throughout the nation to fall ill, including many Mississippi State University students, faculty and staff.
The flu epidemic is a widespread situation. All of the “Lower 48” United States are currently categorized to be in a widespread flu epidemic, meaning there are a multitude of diagnosed cases.
Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of the influenza division in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) national center for immunization and respiratory diseases, said in a telephone press conference it has been a tough flu season so far this year.
“While flu activity is beginning to go down in parts of the country, it remains high for most the U.S., with some areas still rising,” Jernigan said. “Most people with influenza are being infected with the H3N2 influenza virus.”
The CDC said those who suffer from the flu often have symptoms such as fever or feverish chills, cough, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and headaches.
As for the impacts, CDC Director Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald said it has been a challenging flu season, and especially taking a toll on young children.
“I am saddened to tell you that there have been seven more pediatric deaths reported just this week,” Fitzgerald said. “A total of 37 so far for this season.”
Among the many students, faculty and staff at MSU impacted by the flu is the Student Support Services department located in Montgomery Hall. Micah White, assistant director of Disability Support Services, said half of the Disability Support Services staff are out because of the flu.
“In our office, what we’ve done is daily spray Lysol on door handles and on our phones and keyboards,” White said. “If somebody’s out with the flu in our office, we’ll spray everything down really well with that, use a lot of hand sanitizer.”
Additionally, White said it is difficult for people to protect themselves from the flu.
“If somebody’s got it and they don’t know they have it, and then they’re out and then you kind of were around them,” White said. “I have two kids, and I think a lot of people at their school has been out with the flu, so I’m hoping they don’t get it.”
With the flu epidemic sweeping campus, students said they were apprehensive about the possibility of contracting the flu. However, some students like Brittany Lockley will not be deterred. The graduate student majoring in Broadcast Meteorology from Orlando said mindset of students affects the flu situation.
“As long as you prepare yourself and sanitize and make sure that you stay away from other students that look sick, then hopefully you’ll be fine,” Lockley said. “If you think you’re going to get sick, you are going to get sick, and if you think positively, maybe you won’t get sick.”
As for how students should protect themselves, White said doing similar sanitizing practices will help them from contracting the flu.
“Students should keep everything they have, such as their cell phones, their school materials, their bookbags clean,” White said.
The Longest Student Health Center on campus was not immediately available to comment on the matter. However, students can visit the Student Health Center website at health.msstate.edu, or they can contact the Health Center by phone at 662-325-7539 if they feel they need to be checked out in case they have the flu.
