by Erikah Haavie, Contributing Writer<\/p>\n
Suzanne Burton brought a \u201cto-do\u201d list back from winter break.<\/p>\n
One of the items on the list? Getting a flu shot again this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a concern because you\u2019re always around so many people,\u201d said Burton, a junior English major from Lexington, Ky. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely something I hope to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furman is seeing what Director of Student Health Services Mary Haselden described as a \u201ctypical\u201d flu season this year. During the first week of classes in January, clinic staff saw 12 persons with flu-like symptoms, up from four during the last week of classes in December.<\/p>\n
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms typically include a fever of more than 100 degrees, body aches, chills and a cough.<\/p>\n
Widespread flu activity has been reported by 47 states nationwide including South Carolina, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n
In South Carolina, flu activity also remains widespread this month, though reported illnesses are lower Upstate than in the Midlands and coastal regions.<\/p>\n
While this year has been much quieter than flu seasons in 2006 and 2009 at Furman, notices across campus are again reminding students to take precautions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to be proactive to encourage people to get flu shots,\u201d Haselden said.<\/p>\n
So far this season, more than 300 Furman students have received flu shots.\u00a0 A new shipment came in earlier this month to serve 50 people on a waiting list and make additional vaccines available.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour body needs about two weeks to build its best protection after receiving the flu vaccine, so you should get vaccinated as soon as possible,\u201d said Dr. Linda Bell, interim state epidemiologist with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.<\/p>\n
To help prevent the spread of the flu:<\/p>\n
Student clinic hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n