News | March 8th, 2018

Flu Epidemic

By: Brianna Hicks

Tallahassee faced its largest flu crisis in years. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) , the 2017-2018 flu season is already at an alarming rate with the pediatric flu death toll being at 20.This years flu season started early, producing cases of the virus in mid/late October. The CDC recommends that anyone over the age of six months get vaccinated in order to reduce their chances of attracting the virus.

Andra Jackson, Pharmacy student at FAMU says she regrets not getting vaccinated against the disease. She currently is home in bed with the flu and says she’s always tired and ready to be over it. This is her second time getting the flu and she did not miss the feeling. She usually would get her vaccination but just fell short in making that trip to the doctor this season. “I absolutely feel like crap.There is no other way to describe it. I am always tired and I can never get my body temperature to be set. I’m constantly turning on and off my heater and fan. I just can’t wait to be over this and be able to go back into the real world”.

The CDC reports that there is a reported 20 pediatric deaths due to the flu. Symptoms of the flu include, but definitely not limited to, pain in the muscles, fevers, chills and nausea. If it is believed that an individual is at risk for the virus, it is recommended that the individual takes action and go get vaccinated or if needed take actions to get rid of the virus.

Bryanna Pope, roommate to Jackson says she’s in the process of taking the steps to get vaccinated. “Andra and I live in the same house- It’s hard to avoid her. I do not want to get the virus,so I am taking the process to avoid it.”. Pope and Jackson both are students and know the risk of the virus and hope it stops at Jackson.

Now that the Flu season has come to its end, it is even more important to continue practicing good hygiene . Save a trip to the hospital and the chaos and go to your local pharmacy or urgent care and get protected against this deadly disease. Walgreens and CVS are just few pharmacies that offer the shot for a low cost fee or even free. Health services also offer the immunization here on campus. The flu can be a deadly disease but with proper protection such as an vaccination and proper hand washing the disease can be stopped in its tracks.