Flu season is here to conquer us all

Flu season is here, and it has arrived with a nasty vengeance.

States all across the country have been experiencing an influx in the amount of people infected with the flu virus. However, what is unique is how severe the cases of the virus have been.

“Boston and New York State have declared states of emergency, vaccine supplies are running out in spots and some emergency departments are overwhelmed,” declared Amanda Gardner, a HealthDay reporter for U.S. News.

There have also been instances of teen death as a result of the flu virus.

In Texas, a young man by the name of Max Schwolert became sick on December 22, 2012 and eventually passed away from the illness on December 29, 2012, according to reports at CNN.

This came as a shock to many people because Schwolert was only 17, but his untimely death is proof that this new strain of the flu virus going around is not only a serious danger to older elderly people. It can just as dramatically affect the lives of the young and healthy too.

Some academic institutions have begun give out increasing numbers of shots to combat flu.

“The University of Wisconsin-Madison gave out 10,000 free flu shots in the first semester and will give out another 5,000 in January,” said Craig Roberts, the epidemiologist for University Health Services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

However, some Georgia State students seem to feel differently.

“I don’t like them. I think they are good because your immune system can learn to fight [the virus], but they can be bad if your immune system can’t handle the strand of the virus that they give you,” India Wright, a sophomore at Georgia State, said.

Wright also voiced concerns about the virus evolving and becoming harder to fight with modern medicine.

Katherine LeBlanc, a sophomore Nursing major here at Georgia State also voiced similar thoughts on flu shots.

“I don’t receive them. I stopped getting them because immediately afterwards I would just get sick,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc also shared concerns about flu shots themselves being a cause of the virus’ rapid spread.

Traditional methods of avoiding the flu like drinking lots of water and orange juice, keeping hand sanitizer around and remaining as clean as possible, seem to be more practical to some students. Nonetheless, the flu virus can still be contracted despite the best efforts to avoid it.

In those instances, the best option would be to visit the Georgia State Student Health Clinic.

The student clinic is located on the outside of the University Commons near the MILE. There they offer a variety of Primary and Urgent care services such as immunizations, IV therapy, prepackaged medications and prescriptions.

The clinic also offers discounted rates for medical care and Georgia State Health Insurance to all Georgia State students upon the presentation of a Panther, or photo ID card.