Flu plagues many
Michelle Caillouet
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Features
Most students on campus took advantage of the flu shots that were given early last semester. Unfortunately, due to a mutated version of the influenza virus, this year's vaccine does not protect against the specific strain that has been plaguing our campus.
There are many different strains of influenza, and each year doctors and scientists have to guess which flu vaccine to give. "It's really scary that you get a vaccine to protect you from the flu, and then you get a mutated version of the flu, and if they can't protect you from this, what else can't they protect you from?" said Kristin Lowe, a junior theatre major.
The flu season normally lasts from early fall to late spring. The flu is spread via tiny droplets from coughs and sneeze that can spread into a neighboring victim's eyes, nose or mouth.
The flu can be spread anywhere from three days to one week before someone knows he or she is sick.
"As a nursing student, I think it's scary that we could have been protected against the wrong strain. I take care of sick people; I'm afraid I'll give it to them or I'll get it from them," said Abby Griffin, a junior nursing student.
Some symptoms of the flu are fever, dry cough, fatigue, body aches, chills and occasionally a runny nose, nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, flu can lead to death.
There are many different strains of influenza, and each year doctors and scientists have to guess which flu vaccine to give. "It's really scary that you get a vaccine to protect you from the flu, and then you get a mutated version of the flu, and if they can't protect you from this, what else can't they protect you from?" said Kristin Lowe, a junior theatre major.
The flu season normally lasts from early fall to late spring. The flu is spread via tiny droplets from coughs and sneeze that can spread into a neighboring victim's eyes, nose or mouth.
The flu can be spread anywhere from three days to one week before someone knows he or she is sick.
"As a nursing student, I think it's scary that we could have been protected against the wrong strain. I take care of sick people; I'm afraid I'll give it to them or I'll get it from them," said Abby Griffin, a junior nursing student.
Some symptoms of the flu are fever, dry cough, fatigue, body aches, chills and occasionally a runny nose, nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, flu can lead to death.
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