In her 20 years of working at Watkins Memorial Health Center, physician Patricia Denning has never seen such a long delay in the influenza season. Last week was the first time during the 2008-2009 school year that a student went to Watkins and tested positive for it. Normally, Watkins sees cases in late October and mid-November.

The spreading of certain viruses causes influenza, commonly called the flu. It is a highly contagious respiratory illness, often contracted when infected people cough, sneeze and don’t wash their hands.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza reaches its peak in January and February, but most states report the flu as early as September. On its Web site, the CDC also reported that five percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population is infected with the flu each year.

“Unfortunately an average of 36,000 people die every year,” said Arleen Porcell, CDC spokeswoman. Additionally, an average of 200,000 people are hospitalized each year and thousands of people die as a result of serious flu-related conditions such as pneumonia.

“Flu season is making a slow start this year. It usually wraps up in February,” Porcell said. According to the CDC, last year’s flu season peaked in March.

While doctors recommend patients receive vaccinations in September, this year’s delayed flu season has Denning telling her patients to get one now.

“It’s much cheaper than becoming ill in the classroom,” she said.

Ben Leach, Overland Park senior, said he had been sick since last week with flu-like symptoms.

“I usually never get sick and I got a flu shot,” Leach said. “So this is very unusual.”

Leach said he received a flu shot every year around Thanksgiving, but still managed to get sick after his girlfriend had the same symptoms.

“You guys at the university level should get it,” Porcell said of the flu shot. “You’re germ spreaders.” According to the CDC’s Web site, some viruses and bacteria can survive 2 hours or more on surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, and desks.

“I always wash my hands,” Joey Williams, Denver junior, said. Williams has been sick since this past weekend. He said he has been able to keep up with classes and work despite feeling ill.

Williams said he thought his illness originated from a lack of sleep and exposure to large groups of people. Though Williams has had flu shots in past years, he said he didn’t get around to it this season.

Flu viruses are continually evolving, and a person’s antibodies may not recognize the new virus, which means a person can contract the flu more than once. According to the CDC, vaccines are usually updated yearly to account for new virus strands.

Denning said that many students needed antiviral medication once they contracted the flu. Some of these medications, such as Tamiflu, are already resistant to new strands of flu viruses.

“Antiviral medications will only lessen symptoms by one day,” Denning said, but they can also minimize contagiousness. She said antiviral medications would be prescribed only on an individual basis, in order to discourage antiviral resistance.

Denning said Watkins offered medications at cheaper rates than other pharmacies, but the price of antiviral medication could still be as much as $110, depending on a student’s medical insurance.

Watkins offers flu shots for $15 and a nasal mist vaccine for $10. Denning said students should call in advance for an appointment, before they get sick.

Denning said that people with the flu should stay at home and avoid contaminating others as much as possible. If they have to go out, they should carry tissues with them, cover their noses and mouths with their elbows when coughing and sneezing, and wash their hands frequently. Healthy students should to do their best to stay as such by getting enough rest, paying attention to their nutrition and refraining from smoking and drinking.

— — Edited by Melissa Johnson