There’s been an alarming increase of sickness in the air these past few weeks. Coughing and sniffling can be heard all around the hallways, people who usually complain about how hot the classrooms are seem to suddenly be bundling up like they’re in Antarctica, and more and more people are going absent with little to no explanation. What could possibly be the cause of all of this madness?

If you read the title, then you probably guessed correctly. It’s that time of year again: flu season.

“The flu is spreading like wildfire right now, and there’s definitely a little covid in that mix too,” Nurse Melissa Leblanc said.

According to a weekly influenza surveillance report conducted by the CDC, flu rates have been exponentially climbing higher and higher since the end of December, going from moderate on December 14, 2024 to very high on January 4, 2025.

“Some symptoms that you might want to get checked out if you have them are fever, body aches, fatigue, and other symptoms like that,” Leblanc said.

It’s pretty clear that sickness is running rampant, but what can be done to prevent the spread of these illnesses?

“If you haven’t already, start washing your hands more often, and try to stay within your personal space as much as possible,” Leblanc said. “Those are both really important.”

A few other practical ways to avoid spreading this sudden influx of sickness are by periodically disinfecting items that people touch often, using hand sanitizer, and wearing masks if you can’t avoid going to school when you feel under the weather.

Although flu season is unavoidable, we can still take precautions and steps to keep it from becoming too overwhelming. The bottom line is that if you feel sick, stay home and rest until you feel better, and if you don’t feel sick, be aware of the signs and symptoms of the illnesses spreading around.