By Jackie Todd, Office of Media Relations
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that more than half of the country is experiencing high flu activity.
According to Will Mayo, the Joseph F. Sullivan Center’s medical surveillance coordinator, flu and upper respiratory issues at Clemson typically spike in January and February. “This is typically the time of year that flu and other respiratory illnesses peak in our area.” Add to this the problem that with Christmas and holiday travel behind us, everyone comes back and converges on campus,” he said. “We bring it all back, it is the gift that keeps on giving.”
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has reported widespread flu activity in past weeks. Since September, DHEC has reported nearly 35,000 laboratory confirmed cases of flu, as compared with 21,243 cumulative cases this time last year. So far, this year’s flu season has resulted in more than 1,600 lab-confirmed hospitalizations and 38 deaths in South Carolina.
Mayo said that people often confuse symptoms of either a gastrointestinal virus, or an upper respiratory illness with the flu. The first line treatment for most viral illnesses in healthy individuals is rest and plenty of fluids. Influenza is a lower respiratory disease with considerable symptoms, malaise, fever, and cough.
“If a person feels like they may have the flu, it is important that he or she contact a primary care provider or go to an urgent care within the first 48 hours in order to obtain medication that can be helpful in shortening the course of the disease and reduce the risk for complications,” Mayo explained. “People with significant symptoms, or are at high risk for complications should seek care immediately.”
The Sullivan Center works diligently to set appointments quickly for employees. And many times when personal physicians are overwhelmed with flu and upper respiratory patients, the Sullivan Center attempts to set same-day appointments for the university’s faculty and staff who are acutely sick. The Center accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield and, in addition to acute care services, it offers a host of other services including health management services, immunizations and screenings.
Some flu prevention tips from the Sullivan Center:
- Wash your hands.
- Cover your nose/mouth when sneezing.
- Don’t touch other things like door handles, telephones and office equipment, and then touch your face.
- If you experience symptoms like fever, body aches, sneezing, coughing, consider staying home to avoid the spread of the illness.
- Get a flu shot. Although circulating flu strains aren’t always an exact match to the year’s flu vaccine, it may still provide you with some level of protection, potentially shortening the course of the disease, or reducing complications. The Sullivan Center offers flu shots for $25.
The flu season varies each season, but it typically begins as early October and lasts through April.
Click here for more information about the Sullivan Center.
Click here to find out what to do if you have the flu.
