The distinct sound of sniffles and sneezes across campus confirmed what University of Rhode Island Health Services staff already knew: it’s flu season.
The changing of the seasons and shift to indoor gatherings tend to cause the rise in influenza-like illness, according to URI Health Services nursing coordinator Jennifer Strollo. On Oct. 1, two students tested positive for influenza.
Influenza spreads all year, but has exhibited peaks from December to February in past years, according to the Center for Disease Control . The flu is characterized by fever, cough, sore throat, chills and a runny or stuffy nose.
The most effective way to prevent the spread of disease is by getting the flu shot, according to URI Health Services director Jennifer Hodshon. Nine clinics will offer shots for both the flu and the coronavirus on campus this fall.
Health Services offers the flu and COVID-19 shots at no cost during flu season at their flu clinics. Students can register online on the Health Services website . The next clinic will take place on Oct. 31 at Mackall Fieldhouse from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Other ways of preventing illness are more basic, Strollo said. Hand washing and sanitizing after being in highly populated places, like the dining halls, are essential.
“[I would recommend to] just to be cognizant of cell phone use, because that seems to be the last place people think about, and it’s a high surface area for germs,” Strollo said.
Alongside handwashing, sneezing and cough etiquette is key, according to Hodshon. Coughs and sneezes go into the elbow, alongside masks as another form of protection.
“It’s important to wear a mask around other people because that’s how it’s going to be spread,” Hodshon said.
Everyday habits are another important way to stay healthy, according to Hodshon.
“You want to always remember to get good sleep, you want to hydrate, you want to eat healthy and exercise which will mitigate a lot of illness,” Hodshon said.
As for students who are dealing with influenza-like illness, URI Health Services is there for them. Students can see a provider either in person or online, but Strollo recommends stopping by in person.
“[For providers] it makes it difficult sometimes with telehealth, especially if someone has upper respiratory cold symptoms,” Strollo said.
Flu symptoms can also be indicative of other illnesses, according to Strollo. If a student has a productive cough, meaning a cough that produces phlegm, a provider would want to assess if lymph nodes or tonsils are swollen.
Testing for illnesses like strep throat can only be done during in-person appointments, Strollo said.
Appointments can be booked through the URI Health Services Patient Portal .
Students who may be facing illness for the first time away from home might be unaware of the services available to them, Strollo said.
“A lot of students are not aware that they can get over the counter medication here at the pharmacy for either no cost or a very little cost,” Strollo said.
The 24-Hour Room of the Robert L. Carothers Library also offers a wellness vending machine, Hodshon said. The vending machine is stocked with cold and upper respiratory medicines.
