Student Health has observed a second “peak” of influenza cases on campus, Chief Campus Health Officer Dr. Sarah Van Orman said Tuesday in a briefing with campus media.

Van Orman said if the percentage of primary care visits pertaining to flu-like illness is above 3%, the risk of getting the flu is high. A report displayed during the briefing showed a nearly 5% rate at USC in the most recently recorded week — Jan. 26 to Feb. 1.

“There’s a lot of flu out there right now, so [you] really want to take those basic respiratory precautions, primarily washing your hands and not touching your mouth with your hands,” Van Orman said.

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While Influenza A — a subtype of the flu — has been a majority of cases since Dec. 29, according to the report, Van Orman said Influenza B cases have become more common and an Influenza B peak could occur soon.

Van Orman said flu vaccine rates have decreased, both on campus and nationally, due to “misinformation, disinformation and vaccine hesitancy.” She said the decrease in vaccination rates has led to an increase in flu cases on campus.

Flu vaccines are available at Engemann Student Health Center at University Park Campus and Eric Cohen Student Health Center at Health Sciences Campus through walk-ins or appointments. Students can also get vaccinated by making an appointment at USC Pharmacies.

Van Orman said there is no remaining immediate health risk from the Los Angeles wildfires at UPC and HSC, but said there is no “clear indication” of what lasting impacts are present due to buildings containing different materials than items like plant life.

“A lot of what we’re talking about now is what’s sort of leftover in the ash and, in particular, there’s components of that that may be toxic,” Van Orman said. “We know their toxicities and health impacts, but it’s kind of difficult to measure because some of that has to do with how much is [the] wind blow[ing]?”

Van Orman said anyone returning to the area impacted by the fires should wear respiratory protection and wash their hands and clothes after returning. Van Orman advised students to check the air quality index as a part of their daily routine and adjust activity levels accordingly.

Student Health is no longer required to send out daily notifications of coronavirus cases, which was previously a state regulation, Van Orman said. Though not focusing on individually tracking coronavirus cases anymore, Van Orman said Student Health will continue to respond to communicable diseases — which can be transferred through contact with infected individuals — including whooping cough, chicken pox, coronavirus and more. 

While Van Orman said individuals aren’t required to reveal personal information to Student Health, she said to reach out if there is a potential instance of a communicable disease on campus.

“If you’re concerned about something, just let us know,” Van Orman said. “If you hear about something that’s happening, let us know, and we will confidentially, in collaboration with Environmental Health & Safety, reach out, find out what the situation is and then respond if needed.”

As part of Wellness Week, Student Health partnered with the Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate Student Government to provide free or low-cost sexually transmitted infection testing through April 5. The screenings will test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Van Orman said last February that students are recommended to get tested annually.

Student Health is also hosting Just Ask Men, an event to promote men’s mental health on campus, Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. between Doheny and Leavey libraries. Van Orman said the event will have free food and music, offering a time to hang out followed by a panel discussion with male leaders on campus discussing mental health.

“We really want people to both have a chance to hear these men speak, but then also to meet informally with people and just have those informal conversations,” Van Orman said.

Rachel Lichtman, the associate director of public communications for Student Health, said during the briefing that they are planning a health insurance seminar, in partnership with USG and GSG, with more details coming soon.

Student Health launched a podcast Jan. 27, “The Gray Area: Real Talk for Real Relationships,” where its Well-being and Health Outreach Ambassadors talk about the “messy and confusing parts of relationships.”

“They are really passionate about speaking to the gray area of relationships, not the extremes that we all hear about,” Lichtman said. “Every episode, they’re going to chat about a different gray area topic … and then they’ll be speaking with a Student Health expert, so it’ll be a dialogue between everybody.”