MU Prepares for Increase of Flu

University of Missouri health officials are preparing for an increase in flu cases as students prepare to pack into the dorms and classrooms ahead of the upcoming semester. This year’s flu season is already taking a toll, with some hospitals setting up temporary tents outside of hospitals just to keep up with all of the cases.Students may be an easy target for the flu, but campus health officials tell me they are being proactive in hopes of preventing a widespread flu outbreak on campus this year.”We have a message that’s being prepared and a flyer that’s going to be posted in public buildings and residence hall bulletin boards,” said MU Student Health Center Director Susan Evan. “We’re planning an e-mail to go out to students, a postcard to go out to parents to just talk about preparations, flyers about ways to reduce the spread of the flu and ways to protect yourself.”According to the Centers for Disease Control’s website, the best way to protect against the flu is to get a season flu vaccine. The CDC says the flu vaccination is recommended for all children six months and older.”College students are in settings where they’re close to each other and being prepared by having a vaccine is a very effective way to prevent it,” said Even.Even says if you do have the flu, the best way to treat it is to stay home and not go to class or work.