Cincinnati flu numbers among worst in the nation; UC students suffer

"Do you have the suds?" reads a flyer the Student Wellness Center has posted around campus, featuring images of a deathly ill SpongeBob Squarepants.

The back of the flyer lists multiple symptoms of both the common cold and the flu, allowing students to compare their symptoms. The other side of the flyer lists tips to prevent the "suds."

"I had a terrible headache and I was exhausted," said first-year political science student Payton Crowley, who still went to work four out of five days while sick with the flu.

This winter has set itself apart from other years due to the severity of the flu season, which has made flu occurrences more common on campus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common strain of the flu this year is Influenza A. Therefore, many flu vaccines are proving less effective.

The CDC has reported that they have found the Influenza A viruses have exhibited high levels of resistance to adamantanes antivirals; however, most flu cases can be effectively treated with antivirals.

The flu has been responsible for 84 pediatric deaths this season alone. The CDC has categorized the majority U.S. regions at an elevated level of influenza activity in their weekly influenza surveillance report.

The number of positive flu cases - including both Influenza A and B - reached its highest point this flu season in the fourth week of 2018, with roughly 20,000 positive influenza tests reported. It has been on the decline since then, however.

Comparatively, during this past week ending Feb. 10, there were roughly 17,000 cases.

Cincinnati came in at No. 5 on a list of the 14 sickest municipalities in the nation with a flu, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

First-year political science student Mya Ahmed said this year's flu season hit her especially hard this year.

"It lasted about a week and a couple of days," Ahmed said. "I experienced fevers, chills, stomach and body aches, migraines, nausea and fatigue. I couldn't eat. I would try, but it would never stay down."

The flu has affected many students, but children and elderly populations are the most vulnerable, according to the CDC.

"I've seen a lot of the faculty sick with the flu this year," said Madison Deckert, a fourth-year health education student who works as a peer educator for the Student Wellness Center.

"At the Wellness Center, we focus on preventative steps," Deckert said. "For the flu, drinking lots of water, getting plenty of sleep and washing your hands often are good ways to help prevent [it]."

This year, many students have stopped by to grab tissues, hand sanitizer and tea - all items included the center's wellness kits, Deckert said.

"Our wellness kits have been a hot commodity this year," she said, emphasizing the importance of staying home and resting when sick to avoid spreading the flu to others.