Thursday, February 3, 2005
Class absences and hacking coughs have been common lately at the University of Kansas.
Briana McAtee, Wichita senior, has seen it firsthand.
“It went through me, then my roommates, then their friends. It all happened so quickly,” she said.
The flu and other illnesses have taken the hill by storm. Watkins Memorial Health Center has signs warning the possible need to wear a mask while in the building.
Twenty-three cases of the flu have been confirmed at Watkins Health Center since the first day of the spring semester. Twenty cases confirmed at Watkins were Type A, the most common and easily treatable form of the virus, said Myra Strother, Watkins chief of staff.
“It’s reassuring, and if this keeps up, we won’t even have to give the test anymore,” Strother said.
She encouraged students to watch for flu symptoms, and see a physician as soon as possible to get treatment. Proper nutrition, health care, and cleanliness can help reduce the chance of infection.
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If caught within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms, the flu can be treated with antiviral medications. A test determines what form of the virus an individual has. The test is $30 at Watkins.
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Services received notice of increasing flu cases in the county but does not know the exact number of cases, said Kim Ens, health services nurse. Doctors are not required to report flu cases to health officials.
The virus is spread by droplets through coughing and sneezing. Those with the flu are contagious and need to avoid contact with others.
Other illnesses are also showing up on campus. Bronchitis, strep throat and other upper respiratory infections are becoming more common, Strother said.
Health officials are still encouraging people to get vaccinated for the flu. Watkins Health Center has FluMist, the nasal spray vaccination, available by appointment, Strother said.
Douglas County Health Services has 70 doses of the injection vaccination available during clinic hours, Ens said.
Watkins immunized at least 60 students and faculty since restrictions on the vaccination were lifted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a week ago, Strother said.
...
Symptoms of the flu
High fever
Headache
Tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Muscle aches
Gastro-intestinal symptoms (i.e. nausea)
Source: Centers for Disease Control
...
Vaccination locations
Nasal spray vaccination available. Call 785-864-9507 to make an appointment. Cost is $25.
Mon-Fri.: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Sunday : 12:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Services
Injection vaccination available during regular clinic hours. Cost is $10.
8:30am-8pm Monday
9:30am-4:30pm Tuesday
8:30am-4:30pm Wednesday
8:30am-7pm Thursday
8:30am-4:30pm Friday
Sources: Watkins Memorial Health Center and Lawrence-Douglas County Health Services
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