At Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF, students suffer from snow and winds without choice, but can receive help in escaping one of winter’s biggest threats: the flu.

“This year has been a very dry year for the flu,” said Kathy VanVechten, director of nursing and nurse practitioner at University Health Services. “The first positive influenza culture was found two weeks ago. Sometimes they are as early as November.”

This most recent case means that the respiratory illness is present on campus, and students need to take the necessary precautions, including getting a flu shot. Health Services has launched a second round of flu immunizations on campus, and students are encouraged to get the vaccines before the illness becomes more prevalent. The body needs 3 to 7 days to build immunity, so the sooner a student gets a shot, the more likely it will be effective, VanVechten added.

“Since we haven’t seen a whole lot here, there is still enough time to build immunity,” she said.

Last year Health Services administered approximately 700 flu immunizations, and this year they have given more than 1200, she said.

The flu season begins in November and ends in April, and each season has different strains of the virus that cause symptoms of varying severity.

“The immunizations are made up every year based on predictions of what the strains will be, based on epidemiological studies. It’s important to get a flu shot every year because the strains are different,” she said.

Symptoms of the flu occur suddenly and include body aches, fever, cough, sneezing and headaches. The disease is highly contagious, and it is spread through droplet infection, which means coughing or sneezing.

While the best precaution to the flu is to get a vaccine, students and staff can take added measures to protect themselves.

“Drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest, eat well-balanced foods, decrease levels of alcohol and don’t smoke, because those things lower the body’s immunity,” VanVechten said.

Health Services will be holding a Flu Clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 5 in Schine Student Center. Flu vaccines are $10 for students, billed to their bursar account, and $15 for faculty and staff. Appointments are not necessary. Vaccines will be given until the end of February during operating hours at Health Services, 111 Waverly Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

“I got the vaccine last year because I kept getting colds. But I never had to miss a class,” said Diana MacKenzie, a sophomore printmaking major who is planning to get vaccinated at the clinic.

VanVechten said most people who have suffered with the flu before decide to return every year for a flu shot.

Larry Reeves, a freshman environmental forests and biology major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, has experienced the flu, and he has already received a vaccine this year.

“I didn’t want to go through the trouble of getting sick again,” Reeves said.

Published on January 30, 2003 at 12:00 pm