Editorial: Be cautious during flu season, don’t get sick

Staff Report

As members of The Daily Eastern News can attest from sitting in classes, there has been a lot of sniffling and sneezing throughout the university.

Health centers and clinics are seeing a larger number of cases of influenza this year.

There have been increased reports of influenza through both the state of Illinois and the nation, said Eric Davidson, interim director of Eastern’s Health and Counseling Services, in Thursday’s issue of The Daily Eastern News.

Illness and the flu are certainly nothing new, but with the increased number of cases, it is important to be even more vigilant in protecting ourselves from getting sick. It is not worth getting scared over, of course, but taking a few more precautions never hurt.

Take the advice of the professionals in the article. Namely, wash your hands. It should not take up such a huge chunk of your day that you do not have time to do it. It is not only considerate of others, but it will save you from getting sick as well.

Not only that, stay home when you are feeling sick, as Lizzy Howard, a care partner at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, said. You will not concentrate well if you are under the weather in class, and you will not perform to the best of your ability if you are thinking about how sick you are.

Luckily, this flu season will pass, though it may come back around next year. Keeping in mind these tips might just make it easier for all of us.