By Matthew Laurrie
Features Editor
Flu season is slowly creeping inside the Bona Bubble. It’s that time of year when tissues always seem to be running low, frantic students use gallons of hand sanitizer before every class and people hit the snooze button more times than they can count.
Despite the high concentration of germs around campus, Roger Keener, director of the Wellness Center, said there have only been two confirmed cases of the flu at Bonaventure so far this year. However, a greater number of students and faculty members have experienced some less severe ailments. He said the stress of starting a new semester and possible preexisting illnesses cause a high concentration of sick Bonnies at the beginning of the spring semester.
“We really haven’t had an epidemic at all,” he said. “I was bracing for a lot more cases than we’ve had. It’s cold, you’re coming off break, it’s a new semester, and you’re trying to figure out your schedule. I think you hit the ground running more than you do in the fall semester.”
Keener said the most important part of avoiding sickness is preventative measures. Above all, Keener said people should always be vigilant about their health, but especially around flu season.
“One of the things you want to do is really look at self-care, and one of the things is make sure you’re keeping yourself as germ-free as possible – wash your hands, make sure you’re not around a lot of people that are coughing … get enough sleep, get a moderate amount of exercise and eat well,” Keener said. “That’s something you should be doing throughout the year anyway.”
Travis Buckley, a sophomore accounting major, said although he hasn’t been impacted by the flu, he is still taking precautionary measures to ensure he remains healthy.
“I have been washing my hands often and eating better,” Buckley said. “In addition to these few things I have also been working out to help keep germs at bay.”
Christina Zoppi, a junior history major, said some of her friends have recently come down with illnesses, and just last week she battled a stomach bug. Zoppi said sicknesses probably seem more prevalent on campus because of the small size of the Bonaventure community.
“When I went home for winter break in Boston, there was not one available hospital bed because of all the cases (of the flu),” Zoppi said. “Also, (sickness) probably spreads quicker on campus because we are all living together in such tight quarters.”
Zoppi said she thinks it’s important for people to be attentive to their symptoms and be proactive when it comes to seeking treatment.
“The flu is not a fun illness,” she said. “It wears you down. I know a lot of students really can’t afford to be missing classes so early in the semester, myself included. So, it is important to be able to spot the signs of the flu and to take the necessary precautions to stop it.”
Keener said the Wellness Center offers a flu vaccination annually in October, but because of the short shelf life of the immunization and the expenses that accompany keeping it year round, the Wellness Center does not have any flu vaccines currently on hand. However, Keener said the Wellness Center will provide transportation to any students interested in receiving a flu vaccination from local pharmacies.
Keener encouraged members of the campus community to come to the Wellness Center if they feel they might be getting sick. From there, specialists will be able to diagnose patients properly.
“If you have that question of whether it’s something more severe (than a cold), come in and get examined,” he said. “If you’re not feeling well, I think it’s always good to come in and get a professional healthcare worker’s opinion.”
At this time of year, everyone has an obligation to help guarantee the health of people on campus, according to Keener.
“It’s part of our responsibility as community members to make the community as healthy as possible,” Keener said.
