Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Nearly 400 reported flu cases as of 5 p.m. Thursday [Feb. 7] at Mississippi State represents a significant increase over similar illnesses at the university last year.
"This is nearly 150 more cases than we saw last year, with more than 300 of those younger than 25," said Dr. Robert K. Collins, director of the Longest Student Health Center.
He said common-sense measures--avoiding crowds, frequent hand-washings, adequate rest, and an annual flu shot--can go a long way toward protecting against the nasty bug. He added, however, that the current flu vaccine is proving to be only 50 percent effective against current circulating strains.
"We have seen a significant number of people who were vaccinated for the flu," he said.
Some good news: Collins said he believes the MSU outbreak probably has peaked.
For those whose congestion, exhaustion and body aches signify onset of the illness, the veteran physician recommends at-home rest for about five days after developing symptoms. "Someone who has the flu should stay at home until they're no longer ill or infectious," he said.
Those for whom physicians have prescribed the medications Tamiflu or Relenza at the onset of symptoms may return to normal activities sooner, he observed.
While symptoms persist, Collins recommends taking acetaminophen according to directions (usually two tablets every four hours) for body aches and fever, and a cough medicine such as Robitussin DM. Home rest also remains another tried-and-true practice, he emphasized.
"It's best to cover coughs with your arm or elbow rather than your hands, and to wash hands thoroughly." To ensure thoroughness, Collins recommended that two successive singings of the "Happy Birthday" ditty accompany all hand-washing routines.
More detailed information about the flu can be found at the Centers for Disease Control Web site, www.cdc.gov/flu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.