Of the 114,000 people infected with influenza each year in theUnited States, approximately 36,000 people die as a result of thevirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionWeb site.

“We have had an early outbreak this year [in Texas], muchearlier than normal,” Dr. Nancy Merrill, co-medical directorfor SMU’s Memorial Health Center, said. “The virususually appears around late December or early January, about thetime spring rush is starting for the fraternities and sororities. Idon’t know how [SMU] got it first, but we got itfirst.”

The health center has confirmed that two students have the flu.This is enough of a sign that students need to start taking thenecessary precautions to avoid contracting the flu. “It canspread like wildfire,” Merrill said. “Students arestressed, sleep-deprived and constantly coughing or shaking handswith each other. Ten or 12 years ago, we almost had to shut downthe law school because so many students had been seriouslyinfected. It can spread quickly around dorms, fraternity houses andsorority houses,” she said.

Contracting the flu is much different than being affected by thecommon cold.

“Getting the flu feels as if you have been just hit by atruck,” Merrill said. Symptoms include a high fever, usuallyaround 102 degrees, muscle aches and exhaustion Merrill said.

Students experiencing any of these symptoms should go to theHealth Center immediately.

The best way to prevent catching influenza is to receive avaccination, which is created from killed strains of the influenzavirus.

“Vaccinations are about 90 percent effective in preventingthe flu in college aged students,” Merrill said. “Andyou are not going to get the flu from getting a flushot.”

Cheryl Black, the Health Center’s nursing director, saidcommon side effects from receiving a vaccination are soreness atthe spot of injections and, more rarely, a mild fever andheadaches.

However, some people may have some sort of needle-phobia,rejecting the thought or notion of getting a shot.

Merrill explains that there are less effective ways ofpreventing the flu. “There is a nasal spray called FluMist,” she said, “however, you need a prescription andthe cost is very high.”

Students should avoid exposure to an infected person, which isdifficult since in college everyone is in close proximity to eachother, Merrill said. If you do have contact with someone who isinfected, get plenty of rest and drink a lot of fluids to flush anyvirus you may have contracted out of your system. One should avoidalcohol, since it will cause dehydration and will lower your immunesystem.

“Antibiotics, such as Z-Pack, will not cure or even helpthe flu,” Merrill said. Other medication is needed to helpcombat the virus for someone who has contracted it. Suchprescription medicines as Flumadine and Tamiflu are effective inhelping cut down on viral replication in the body.

The Health Center started with 2,000 flu shots at the beginningof the outbreak, and as of Tuesday the center was down to about350.

“We expect to run totally out by the end of the week.Students need to come and get them as soon as they possiblycan,” Merrill said.

The Health Center is offering flu shots from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. onWednesday and Thursday for $15 each. Students do not have to makean appointment to receive the vaccination.

Quick Flu Facts

• The only type of influenza vaccine licensed is made of killedinfluenza viruses.

• Influenza viruses used in the vaccine are grown in hen’seggs.

• Anyone allergic to eggs, or egg products cannot take thevaccine.

• The most common side effect is soreness at the site ofinjection.

• The vaccine does not cause influenza, a common myth.