FTFO: Fight the Flu Off

Despite the scorching temperatures outside, fall is in full swing and the infamous USC plague is making its rounds. One need only listen to the sniffles, coughs and sneezes echo through Taper Hall to know that no one is really safe anymore. Students are rarely ever alone, eating together, sleeping together, going to (or ditching) class together and spending pretty much every moment in between together. This kind of close proximity makes it only too easy for virus and disease to spread, making college campuses breeding grounds for the illness like the common cold and flu.

With their busy schedules, students should take all necessary precautions to avoid a bout of the flu, differentiable from a mere cold by muscle and joint aches, chills, a high fever and severe headaches. The college lifestyle makes students ill-equipped to fight off the flu, often maintaining irregular exercise and sleep schedules or not getting enough vitamins through their diet. Not only does this type of lifestyle put students at a higher risk for getting the flu, it puts them at higher risk for being sick during midterms and final exams, as well.

Studies show that only about 10 percent of students receive the flu vaccine each year, and that about 1 in 4 students contract the flu. These striking numbers prove that college students are either super confident about their health or do not know that most schools offer low-cost or free flu vaccines. For USC students, the Engemann Student Health Center offers the quadrivalent flu shot for $25 in the Immunization Clinic, protecting students against the two type A influenza viruses and two type B influenza viruses. If $25 bucks for a flu vaccine does not make your wallet happy, the L.A. Department of Public Health will have free flu shots on campus Nov. 3 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Trousdale Parkway, too. For those with a fear of needles, ask for the nasal mist alternative, which is much less intimidating.

If just the idea of getting a vaccine at all cramps your style, then there are certainly other things to do to keep yourself from getting or spreading the USC plague. Some tips include practicing proper coughing and sneezing etiquette (sneeze into the crook of your arm, NOT your hand); wash your hands regularly (I’m looking at you, girl who came out of the stall and directly left the bathroom); avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth (who knows who last touched that door handle at TroGro?); and clean surfaces regularly (wipe down your phone, desk and laptop mouse pad at the very least).