A large number of new flu cases at the University of Colorado at Boulder has campus health officials warning that students, as well as faculty and staff members, should learn to recognize the early symptoms of flu and take steps to see a physician immediately if they experience more than one of the typical symptoms.
CU-Boulder's Wardenburg Health Center is now averaging 20 new cases of flu among students daily since the first cases appeared on campus Nov. 5, the day before a campuswide clinic was held offering flu and meningitis shots.
"We are concerned that students may be delaying a trip to the doctor's office when they first notice symptoms because of busy schedules or exams or papers," said Dr. Thomas Kunstman, lead physician in the Medical Clinic at Wardenburg where more than 100 CU-Boulder students have been diagnosed with flu in the last week.
"Â鶹ÒùÔº will find they'll be out of commission much longer if they delay getting a diagnosis and treatment for flu," said Dr. Kunstman.
According to the Boulder County Health Department's communicable disease division, flu symptoms include "the sudden onset of headache, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body and muscle aches, runny or stuffy nose and extreme fatigue." Most people recover from the flu within a week, but for some the flu can lead to pneumonia and require hospitalization.
Flu diagnosis is usually made by a physician when symptoms including fever, cough, headache and body aches are present. In some cases, rapid diagnostic tests can be conducted, which are able to detect the influenza virus in less than an hour.
Wardenburg Health Center is conducting a second flu and meningitis clinic today, Nov. 13, at the Student Recreation Center on campus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Flu shots cost $20 and meningitis shots are $90.
An estimated 900 students received shots last week at the Nov. 6 clinic, but the clinic was forced to close two hours earlier than planned because of a shortage of vaccine. At the Nov. 13 clinic, 1,000 doses of the vaccine will be available.
Besides urging students to get shots and act quickly if symptoms appear, CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard L. Byyny is urging students to avoid becoming ill by adopting good prevention habits such as frequent hand washing.
"One of the simplest ways to avoid illnesses such as flu and colds is to wash your hands frequently throughout the day," said Byyny, a medical doctor who has continued a small practice while serving as chancellor.
Although the best way to avoid getting the flu is to get a flu shot, other good health practices can help, Byyny said. They include getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, drinking plenty of water, avoiding use of alcohol and tobacco and practicing good nutrition.
In addition to concern about flu, Wardenburg officials have urged all CU-Boulder students who live in residence halls to get vaccinated for meningitis either at a campus clinic or by going directly to Wardenburg Health Center Monday though Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The American College Health Association recommends that people living in residence halls consider getting the meningitis vaccine because, generally speaking, people living in close quarters are more likely to contract meningococcal meningitis, or bacterial meningitis, than those who don't. Meningococcal meningitis can be fatal.
For more information on the flu check the Wardenburg Web sites at . Other useful Web sites include: