The Irritable Influenza

The month of January signifies a lot of things for the typical high school student: the start of a new year, application deadlines for colleges, and of course, the flu. Although the flu season technically starts in the month of October, no other month has been responsible for more sick kids.

Receiving and transmitting the flu virus are two of the greatest fears students have at this time of year. With finals rapidly approaching and the end of the semester in the horizon, students don’t have the luxury of missing a few days due to an illness or inconvenience. Richard, a junior at (ANHS) states that “you usually get it (the flu) after winter break. I guess people mess around during the break and when they come back they make everyone sick. It’s unfortunate, because the students who miss class don’t want to, and it forces them to double up on work.

The issue isn’t simply avoiding the flu, which in itself is a daunting task. Over 3,000 students come into contact with each other daily. Getting a seasonal shot isn’t the quick fix either, as 10 to 50 percent of individuals who receive a vaccine are still at risk. Sean, an ANHS student, says that, “It’s a hassle to get a shot as well, because they only last a year.” He suggests “making a shot with a length [of protection] similar to that of the “T-Dap,” which is about seven to eight years.” 

Student health concerns are directly transferred to the school nurse, who regulates the student’s visits. Janet Leopard, Aliso Niguel High School’s Health Technician, says that she has “on average, maybe 275 visits per month.” According to Leopard, “there were a lot of kids coming in with the stomach flu and fevers. We’re expecting more throughout the month of January.” She suggests doing practical things like “hand washing and coughing on your sleeve instead of your hand.” Her motto for flu-stopping is “Be a germ-stopper.”

It seems as if the influenza issue is becoming more significant as the time passes, partly because of the rapid mutations the virus undergoes. One can expect over 100 different types of mutation to originate, all with a degree of bodily immune resistance. Even if the entirety of the world’s civilians were to receive a vaccine, the possibility of contamination still exists. Hopefully the influenza will be eradicated in time, but until then, keep scrubbing!