Approximately 300 students have reported contracting the flu during the past two weeks, according to the Dudley Coe Health Center. However, officials say that the worst may be over.
"It does seem to be waning this week," said College Physician Dr. Jeff Benson.
Students have missed classes due to the flu. Professor Allen Springer, chair of the Government department, said many absences have occurred during the last couple of weeks.
Many faculty members have also caught the flu.
"I know several members of the department have had it and at least one has had to miss classes," Springer said.
Because students and faculty members can miss valuable class time due to being ill, these individuals have to judge the number of classes they can afford to miss.
"Obviously it's always better for students and teachers not to miss class, but it's also a judgment call," Springer said. "I know faculty really don't like to miss class, but there are times when it is virtually impossible to lecture or your coughing can be so annoying and distracting not that much gets accomplished."
If a professor misses class due to illness, it is up to that faculty member to determine how to make up for lost class time. Similarly, students who miss classes should be prepared to make up missed assignments.
Dean of Student Affairs Craig Bradley noted that students can visit their dean to help them find ways to make up the work more quickly.
Benson recommended for students to stay in bed to rest if they have the flu. This not only increases the speed of recovery for the student, but it also helps reduce the likelihood of that person's spreading the flu to other people on campus.
Bradley concurred.
"If a student is not well, she or he should take the time it takes to get well. That may mean missing class," said Bradley.
"The other concern, of course, is that the flu is contagious, so from a public health perspective the less exposure an infected person has with groups of people, the healthier the population as a whole will be," he said.
Benson noted that people can spread the flu even before they feel sick.
"Some people get infected with [the] influenza virus, don't get sick, but still spread it unknowingly to others," Benson said.
Students and faculty members who are not sick can take several precautions to minimize the likelihood of contracting the flu. Benson recommended people get plenty of rest and exercise as well as drink plenty of fluids and eat healthily. He also advised to avoid alcohol and tobacco.
People should also wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizers and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth, for this can also spread germs.
"Stay away as much as you can from people who are sick," Benson said.
Ill students and faculty should also follow health measures, which will increase the speed of recovery. These measures include the use of medicines, such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen for fever and pain, and cough syrup for cold-like symptoms.
"Or try my favorite," Benson said, "chicken broth with lots of garlic and ginger."