The flu bug has hit West Tennessee and is taking its toll on the students at UTM. Student Health offers advice on how to prevent getting the flu.

Director of Student Health, Shannon Deal, said that Student Health has seen many students who have had the flu within the last two weeks. “Since Feb. 10, we have seen almost 200 cases of the flu,” Deal said. This time of year Student Health usually only sees 24 patients a day. Now, Deal said they are seeing as high as 35 students daily.

Deal said that she is working closely with Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. Katie High and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Dr. Tom Rakes to inform faculty of the risks that are involved when students attend classes while having the flu.

“They have been strongly encouraged to exhibit understanding for the students,” Deal said.

But, understanding does not necessarily mean your classes will be excused even if you have the flu. A campus announcement released on Banner from Rakes said that, “Faculty members are not required to excuse a flu-related absence, but they will appreciate the fact that you took the time to seek treatment.”

Freshmen Jon-Michael St. Amant is one student who has experienced this first hand. Student Health diagnosed St. Amant with the flu earlier this week.

“I have the flu and yesterday I still had to go take my math test because my professor won’t let me reschedule the test,” St. Amant said.

“I was told I couldn’t reschedule the test for a later date, only an earlier one,” St. Amant explains. “But, if I am sick, and can’t study, then how can I reschedule for an earlier date? And, if I am doing the whole class a favor by not infecting them and maybe even the teacher, shouldn’t I get a break?” St. Amant asks.

Deal said that if people with the flu continue to go to class then the campus is not going to be able to beat the virus. “As long as students and staff continue to attend class and engage in activities while they are ill, the viruses will remain on campus,” Deal said.

Despite the rumors that are going around on campus, there is no plan to cancel any classes according to Chancellor Nick Dunagan. “We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation, but canceling classes would be a last-resort strategy to beat the flu,” Dunagan said.

Student Health said that flu shots are no longer available.

Because of the increase in patients, Deal said that students need to make appointments to visit Student Health in the early morning to ease strain on the center.

“We are experiencing an extremely high volume of patients and this is unavoidable. However, our wait is considerably less than a private physician’s office and the ER,” Deal adds.

As for the outlook on whether the flu is decreasing or increasing with the last few weeks Deal said, “Unfortunately, the number of students we are seeing with the flu is increasing, not decreasing.” Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and body aches. Vomiting and diarrhea can occur, but are more common in children.

Student Health Services is located at the southeast corner of campus between Cooper and the new housing construction. on the corner of Lee and Jeffress. They can be reached at 881-7750 or 881-7751.