Influenza cases have increased on campus, marking early flu season activity, Chief Campus Health Officer Dr. Sarah Van Orman said in a briefing with the Daily Trojan and Annenberg Media Nov. 19.

“Even though [flu season has] arrived, it’s going to keep going for several weeks,” Van Orman said. “We might be in the midst of it during end-of-the-semester finals week, so we know students definitely don’t want to get sick during that.”

Symptoms, which can include fever, body ache, headache, sore throat and a cough, are typically more severe than those from colds and some illnesses, Van Orman said.

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

“People tend to have a really sudden onset. They feel okay, and then within a couple of hours, they feel really, really bad,” Van Orman said. “The symptoms can linger — people can have fatigue and cough and not feel well for a week or two after [illness], so [we] really encourage people to get their flu shots.”

Flu shots are available at the Engemann Student Health Center and Eric Cohen Student Health Center by appointment or walk-in visits as well as at USC Pharmacies.

Students who experience flu-like symptoms can schedule respiratory appointments at the on-campus health centers or via telehealth.

“We can actually diagnose the flu often clinically, based on the symptoms, even without a test,” Van Orman said. “You can also schedule a telehealth appointment and talk to a healthcare provider about maybe starting on antivirals. Antivirals don’t cure the flu, but they can shorten the course by a day or two — but they have to be taken within the first 24 to 48 hours of symptoms.”

Students can schedule telehealth appointments with Student Health clinicians from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday. For health care needs after campus health clinic hours, students can contact the 24/7 Student Health call center to speak with an advice nurse.

“If you’re sick in the middle of the night, not sure what to do, you can just call our number, and they’ll put you through to the nurse,” Van Orman said. “The nurse can give home care advice and can maybe get you scheduled.”

As students prepare to travel for the holidays, Van Orman recommended preventive health practices — including hand washing, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated — to reduce the risk of contracting illness.

“It’s very easy to get sick when you travel … It’s not the plane; it’s the airport that seems to be the source of transmission,” Van Orman said. “Wash your hands, cover your cough, consider wearing a mask in the airport on your way back if you don’t want to get sick.”

As influenza activity is expected to continue, Student Health encourages students to get vaccinated to reduce the risk of getting sick during flu season.

“Flu has a very characteristic set of symptoms; It is much more severe than a regular cold. It’s not too late to be vaccinated,” Van Orman said. “People are about to travel for the holidays, so this is a great time to get your flu shot.”