Some medical experts are saying that this year’s flu season will be especially difficult, with outbreaks expected all across the United States and abroad. Already, signs of the nasty virus are being felt, with its full effect expected over the winter months.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that December 8-14, 2008, is National Influenza Vaccination Week, with December 9th designated as Children’s Vaccination Day. However, for students attending the University of Minnesota, Twin Cites campus, Tuesday, October 28th was that school’s vaccination day and it was one for the record books. On that day 11,538 flu vaccines were dispensed, nearly tripling the previous one day record, landing the university in the Guinness World Records book.

“This has been a wonderful success. Not only have we broken the record, but we vaccinated so many people and raised awareness about the importance of flu vaccines when it comes to the health of college students,” said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, director and chief public health officer at the University of Minnesota Boynton Health Service.

The CDC is asking every healthy American to get a shot this year especially those people who meet the following criteria:

• CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.
• While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season.
• The vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses or it can make your illness milder if you get a different flu virus.
• Getting a vaccine is very important for people at high risk for serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart or lung disease, and people 65 and older.
• People who live with or care for those at high risk should also get a flu vaccine to protect their high-risk contact.

Moreover, the CDC is recommending the following preventive measures:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get the flu, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Lastly, for anyone who gets the flu, the CDC recommends that patients see their doctors immediately and take prescribed anti-viral medicine:

• If you do get the flu, antiviral drugs are an important treatment option. (They are not a substitute for vaccination.)
• Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
• Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. This could be especially important for people at high risk.
• For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).
• Flu-like symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches.

College students may believe that they’re immune from sickness and may dismiss the need for a flu shot. However, anyone can experience complications from this type of illness, related effects that can kill.

(Source: University of Minnesota/Twin Cities)

Tags: CDC, flu, flu shots, health tips, influenza, Minnesota

The last full month of college football is upon us with key games being played this weekend. Texas, Alabama, and Penn State are clearly in the hunt for the national championship, but neither school has a clear road ahead of them. A lot can happen on the gridiron, as several schools learned last weekend, who were caught looking past lesser opponents and suffered a defeat.

Among conferences, the Big 12 is making a compelling argument for being the best college football conference out there, but the Southeast Conference certainly isn’t about to be counted out. The Big East is going through an uncharacteristically bad year with its sole ranked team, #23 South Florida, sitting in sixth place in the conference.

Starting with tonight’s game, let’s take a look at who is playing and the stakes that are involved with this weekend’s major tilts:

South Florida at Cincinnati – Both teams are coming off of losses and needing a win to preserve any chance of bowl season redemption. At 1-2 in league play, South Florida has been the most disappointing team in the league, the one school that was expected to challenge West Virginia for the crown.

West Virginia at Connecticut – The Huskies won’t soon forget the 66-14 shellacking from the Mountaineers that did not cost them a share of the Big East title last year. WVU isn’t as strong of a team this year, but Connecticut isn’t either. The winner of this game has a clearer shot at taking the conference title.

Tulsa at Arkansas – The Golden Hurricanes cannot afford to take the Razorbacks for granted. At 8-0, Tulsa might forget that 3-5 Arkansas has kept the last three games close, even upsetting #20 Auburn on October 11^th. There is a good chance that Tulsa could leave Little Rock 8-1 if they’re not careful.

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame – This is a non-conference tilt for the Panthers who are coming off a 54-34 smarting at the hands of a rejuvenated Rutgers squad. Both teams have a lot to prove in November with Pittsburgh hoping that their season isn’t coming crashing down upon it like it did in 2006. As for Notre Dame, they’re still trying to bury the ghost of 2007 once and for all.

Florida at Georgia – The winner of this contest has a leg up on the SEC East and could still represent the SEC at a BCS bowl game by knocking off Alabama in the championship game. First things first: both schools have been playing exceptionally well of late, making this game one of the best of the weekend. Expect a last minute winner in a seesaw battle that will be downright electrifying!

Texas at Texas Tech – 8-0 v. 8-0 – it doesn’t get any better than this! #1 Texas will be playing their fourth straight game against a ranked team when the Longhorns face off against the #7 Red Raiders this Saturday. If the Longhorns win it, they’ll only have to face Baylor, Kansas, and Texas A&M before the Big 12 conference title game in December. But, the high powered Red Raider offense still must be stopped, something no opponent has managed to do all season long.

Meanwhile, #2 Alabama catches a break this weekend when they host Arkansas State while #3 Penn State gets a week of rest before finishing the season at Iowa followed by home games against Indiana and Michigan State.

Adv. — Is your family experiencing a financial shortfall this academic year? Scholarships, grants, 529 money, and part time work may not be enough. Learn about private student loans by visiting SayStudent.com, your portal for college financial assistance. We have free tools for your download and updated information about current college financing requirements.

Tags: college football, sports