After all the stress and craziness during finals weeks, Nazareth kids and students everywhere looked forward to a relaxing break full of presents, unhealthy food, and bad quality TV, but instead, some found themselves with burning throats, shaking bodies, and stomachs that would not keep in food. Lucky ones who avoided these rather uncomfortable qualities returned to school to find many a friend or even teacher missing. And before long, they began to contract the awful symptoms of the 2013 flu epidemic.
Epidemic is no overstatement as the flu this season has become widespread across the nation and severe enough to cause a large concern, as over twenty children have died from it. States with some of the highest number of cases include Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, and you guessed it, Illinois. In fact, the emergency rooms in the Chicago land area have become so crowded that hospitals started turning people away.
Symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat, stomach pain, headaches, exhaustion, and vomiting. Take it from Junior Maura Nicholson, who missed three days because of the flu. Stuck in bed with a 101 degree fever, she slept up to fourteen hours. When awake, she either watched Desperate Housewives or the Ellen Show to cope with her headaches or tried to finish the homework she got by emailing her teachers. Even with this rest, it took about two weeks before she felt completely better.
How do you avoid this flu so widespread it’s at epidemic level in all but three states? First get the vaccine. This year’s vaccines are 62% effective, which means there is still a chance to contract the flu even after receiving the vaccine. But pre-exposure to the virus that the vaccine offers will lessen the symptoms and may prevent life threatening side effects, such as pneumonia. Also, as often as possible wash your hands with soap and water and if unable to do so use hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as well as close contact with infected people. Also do what doctors always tell you: exercise, eat healthy, and get a good amount of sleep (even if you have a biology test the next day). Authorities believe it is reaching its peak, so hopefully if you follow these tips, the flu can be totally avoided, and you can face the year knowing nothing can be too bad as you have survived an epidemic.