Sneezing. Coughing. A fever that exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It is time to stay home in bed, away from friends and fun. Instead of playing and texting on your phone, you must take medicine every hour. When you finally get back to school, you notice that your friends missing. In fact, it seems that half of the class has mysteriously disappeared. What is going on? Could it be the end of the world? No, it is just the flu season and it is nothing new. It affects the academic system hugely, but there is a way we can prevent it, right?

The Influenza Virus, or the flu as it is more commonly known, is one of the most well-known diseases in America. It is highly contagious and can kill elderly people and young children if not carefully treated.

“When you have the flu, you will have a fever (100-102 degrees), body aches and coughing, which usually lasts between three to four days,” school nurse Allison Yonamine said. “A stuffy and runny nose and a sore throat can occur sometimes.”

Every state in the country is affected by Influenza in some way. Flu seasons can happen unpredictably, but mostly occur around the end of autumn and throughout winter.

Yes, students, teachers and staff around McKinley High School have been or are being affected by the flu. An increase of coughing, sneezing and sudden absences have been witnessed around campus.

“I had to stay home, so I couldn’t do work,” Freshman Michael Sumaylo said.

Sumaylo was affected by the flu for two days. Even though they are sick, some students and teachers (and they are sick because they are showing some symptoms of Influenza, such as coughing and sneezing) still come to campus. They could spread the disease even more and at a more alarming pace.

There are ways to prevent the flu. First is the vaccine or nose spray. However, you must get the vaccine as soon as possible, because you can still be infected with Influenza for up to two weeks, even if you took the vaccine. However, this year’s strain of Influenza was a bit different, so the vaccine may not suppress the virus as well as you may expect.

“The scientists choose to fight the flu strain that is the most dangerous,” Yonamine said. “It is similar to a hit-or-miss gamble. However, you should still get the vaccine because it can shorten the days you are sick, and lessen the severity of the effects.”

Yonamine also recommended some tips and tricks of her own. “I wish that we could have flu vaccines in high school and that we should remind the students of the basics. Sneeze and cough into your shoulder or elbow. Also, if you are sick and you sneeze or cough in your hand, wash your hands while singing the ABCs twice.”

To prevent boring sick days, be extremely careful of what you do around the clock.