It's a lesson we all learn as a young child: Wash your hands in order to stay healthy.

"One of the main reasons people get sick is because they just don't wash their hands," said Jim Hawkins, Elon's medical director. "Hand washing is the thing that has proved most effective against respiratory infection."

Hawkins said that viruses are most often spread through direct physical contact such as kissing, and indirect contact such as sharing of a drink or cigarette. This is especially dangerous on college campuses, where students eat, live and work close to one another.

"Viruses just run rampant in closed communities like this," Hawkins said. "They just spread so easily from person to person."

Hawkins said one of the best ways to prepare for the flu season is to get a flu shot.

However, one of the main reasons many people don't get a flu shot is the fear of getting sick from it. Hawkins disagrees.

"Injections use a killed virus; they cannot possibly give you the flu," Hawkins said. However, he said it is possible for people to have a slight reaction to flu shots.

"You can have a low-grade reaction to the shot, but it usually doesn't last more than a day or so," he said. "Getting an injection is putting a protein injection into your system. Any time you put a foreign protein into your body you run the risk of having some kind of slight reaction."

Hawkins said the flu season has gotten off to a relatively calm start. The health center has seen six cases of the flu so far. Last year, the center treated more than 100 individuals for flu-like symptoms.

According to Hawkins, Elon lies within the jurisdiction of a national reporting system area that is operated by the Center for Disease Control. Elon's health center reports the number of cases of flu patients it sees to the center's headquarters in Atlanta, where the results are tabulated with other reporting sites. From that information, the center can calculate each area's level of risk for contracting the flu. Last year, Elon was in a "high risk" area. The results of the survey are updated each month during the flu season of November to April.

Flu symptoms often include cough and congestion, sore throat and a temperature above 100 degrees. When patients arrive with these symptoms, Hawkins said the health center has a number of treatments available it can prescribe to help shorten the flu's duration.

Hawkins recognized that college isn't always the easiest place to have healthy habits. Still, he said the best way to thwart illness is to get sufficient sleep and eat a balanced diet.

Hawkins also said there are still a few flu shots that have not been administered. If you missed the free shots and would still like to get a vaccination, call the health center at 278-7230 to schedule a time.

Elon University Pendulum © 2003