The swine flu first came about in Mexico this summer and quickly spread across the world at a rate that made the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization sit up and take notice. Recent reports on the virus indicate that the risk of infection isn’t over. If anything, it’s worse - especially for college students.
Swine Flu Season Starts Early for Some College Students
It’s just days into the new semester, and colleges across the country have already started reporting outbreaks of the swine flu on campus.
Case in point: August 20th, the University of Kansas began the Fall semester, and by the 24th at least 47 students had already contracted the swine flu.
Because students spend time in close quarters and large assembly style classes at maximum capacity, as well as the fact that campuses have a lot of bodies moving around them in a somewhat centralized location, colleges are a prime spot for spreading swine flu.
Swine flu is serious and has lead to a number of deaths across the globe. In a typical year approximately 36,000 people die of the flu in the United States. The CDC says that up to an additional 90,000 could fall victim to swine flu this year.
How You Can Protect Yourself from Swine Flu
Getting knocked on your keester and isolated for a couple of weeks right when classes begin can’t be good for your GPA, not to mention your social life. Let’s go over how to keep the swine flu at bay.
Like other strains of the flu, there are precautions you can take to avoid getting sidelined by the swine flu during football season. Some are easy, common sense things you should practice for good health. Others are more drastic and pertain specifically to swine flu.
· Washing your hands frequently – H1N1 spreads by touch more easily than other flu strains
· Doing the Dracula cough – I could have just said cough into your sleeve, but I like the name
· Pay attention to your health and any changes
· Avoid others that may be sick
· Get the H1N1 vaccine
Right now the federal government is frantically trying to pump out as much H1N1 vaccine as it can, but the supply hasn’t yet met the demand. Even with a $2 billion program in place, the bulk of the vaccine supply won’t be ready until mid-October. For info on flu prevention in general visit the
government’s flu site.
What to do if you get Swine Flu
Even if you follow the guidelines for preventing infection, it can still happen. Below is a quick checklist for how to handle being a swine flu recipient.
· First and foremost, STAY AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE
· Talk with professors about how you’ll handle coursework while out of the class
· Contact your regular physician to let them know what the situation is and get their feedback
· Rest, drink plenty of fluids – basically what you would do if you had the regular flu
· Brag to your friends that you survived the swine flu – trust us it won’t be a cake walk
Closing Note on H1N1 and Your Finances
Your health is a serious issue even if you do feel invincible in your young age. Remember, your youth is what’s making you more susceptible to swine flu. And yes, it is a monetary issue as well – medical bills aren’t fun to have to pay for and many times they are anything but cheap.
You’ve got better things to spend your money on than meds and Gatorade. Practice preventative health care so that you can keep that cash in your wallet.