The flu has been gradually growing more deadly with each passing week this season. However, there are still many cautionary measures Allen students can take to protect themselves from the flu in order to stay healthy in this season that has been characterized by intense sickness.

This year, the Center for Disease Control reports that 90 percent of the flu cases are type A and subtype H3N2, a severe case, according to the junior- and senior-class nurse, Benny Bolin.

“[Subtype H3N2] that is a very violent strain,” Bolin said. “The vaccines don’t work on that strain very well, so it decreases their ability to fight infection. Then, they just get really sick from that.”

Even though the common symptoms of the flu, such as fever and cough, haven’t changed, they have grown more severe with the new strain. Additionally, according to Bolin, the flu is extremely contagious.

“It’s passed from direct contact and from being close to somebody and air droplets going out,” Bolin said. “The symptoms almost all the time [include] a fever; you have body aches and pains, you cough, [have] a runny nose. Those are the big ones right there.”

According to Bolin, flu season normally starts in December and lasts until March. However, this season it started in early November which is why there have been more issues. Despite the vaccine not working as well against this year’s flu, Bolin claims that it still helps.

“If you don’t get the vaccination, you stand a pretty good chance of getting it, so it’s just according to how many people take the vaccination,” Bolin said. “If you get vaccinated, even if you get the flu, it will actually decrease the symptoms, and instead of being sick for ten days, you’ll only be sick for six days. Also, if you are in a compromised situation, you probably would not die.”

Even though, according to Bolin, primarily the very young and the old are at risk of dying from the flu, he points out that the flu is still a problem for school-aged children.

“If you have a fever of over 100 degrees, you can’t come to school for 24 hours until you’ve been fever free for 24 hours without the use of like Advil or Tylenol, something to decrease it,” Bolin said. “So the main thing is, if you feel bad, get tested and don’t come to school if you’ve got the flu until you’re well because all you’re doing is spreading it to all the other 5,000 kids in the school.”

According to Bolin, the flu vaccine is the main way students can protect themselves from the flu. Despite this, there are other ways for students to prevent themselves from catching it.

“You need to wash your hands as much as possible,” Bolin said. “The gel will work, but it’s better to use soap and water. Cover your cough, drink lots of fluids and just try not to be around people that have the flu.”