Flu season is real on campus! According to data provided by the Barnes Center at The Arch, there were 749 cases of the flu on campus in Spring 2025. Avoiding contracting the flu when it’s going around campus might seem difficult; however, if you take the right measures, staying healthy doesn’t have to be hard! Here are eight ways to ensure you stay healthy during flu season on campus.
Get Your Flu Shot
Getting your flu shot is one of the best and most effective ways to stay healthy and avoid the flu. Even though the shot doesn’t always prevent you from contracting the illness, it can drastically decrease the severity of your symptoms if you do get sick. This means you don’t have to miss out on classes, clubs, work and important meetings! Every fall, the Barnes Center hosts flu shot clinics open to all students on varying dates and times, making it easy for anyone who wants a flu shot to get one. Even when the flu shot clinic isn’t going on, you can get your flu shot at the Barnes Center just by making an appointment. Schedule your flu shot appointment and view the flu clinic hours through the Patient Portal.
Note Your Risk Factor
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that 90% of people who were hospitalized with the flu in recent flu seasons had an underlying condition. Taking note of your pre-existing health conditions and whether they can worsen your flu symptoms is crucial to protecting your health. The CDC lists who’s at increased risk for the flu and what contracting it can mean for their health. Remember, vaccination is the best way to prevent getting the flu!
Determine if You Have the Flu
Due to the generic nature of flu symptoms, it can be hard to figure out whether or not you actually have the flu. According to the CDC, flu symptoms include, but are not limited to, fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and/or fatigue. While these align with a lot of other illnesses, the flu is often characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms; non-flu illnesses are more often characterized by a gradual onset of symptoms. Identifying when you start experiencing these symptoms can help you get better faster and prevent you from spreading the disease to others. Additionally, over-the-counter tests for flu and COVID-19 are available in the Barnes Center Pharmacy, so you can easily test and see what may be the cause of your symptoms.
Boost Your Immune System
Daily practices of health can help maintain and boost your immune system, making you less prone to getting sick. According to the CDC, eating well, drinking plenty of fluids, managing stress, getting enough sleep and being physically active are all important ways to maintain your physical health and prevent illness. By practicing these measures, you can better prevent contracting the flu and other illnesses.
Sanitize and Clean Surfaces
Things like door handles, desks and dresser drawers can accrue germs quite easily. Taking the time to disinfect these surfaces frequently is key to killing germs and preventing the transmission of the flu and other illnesses. Use EPA-registered disinfectants such as Clorox or Lysol for the best effect.
Get Medicine at the Barnes Center Pharmacy
Located on the first floor of the Barnes Center, the Barnes Center Pharmacy isn’t just for prescription medications; you can also get a variety of over-the-counter cold and flu medications! This can be super helpful if you don’t want to walk all the way to a local drugstore or order online and pay extra because of delivery fees—you can get the medications you need right on campus!
Cover Your Mouth and Mask Up
According to Healthline, the flu is an airborne disease that is commonly spread through respiratory droplets—more simply put, the stuff that comes out of your mouth when you cough or sneeze. This makes covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze imperative to preventing the spread of the flu. The best way to do this is by putting your elbow up to your mouth, covering it completely as you cough or sneeze.
For the same reason, wearing a mask when you feel sick is crucial to prevent the spread of germs via respiratory droplets. It’s important to note that respiratory droplets are not only produced and spread when you cough or sneeze, but also when you just talk. For this reason, masking up when you don’t feel well is important!
Don’t Share Vapes or Drinks
Remember that respiratory droplets are not just spread when they are airborne, but also by sharing vapes, drinks or other items your mouth comes into contact with. Avoid passing these items around to other people and be conscious of your ability to get sick by sharing these items with others.
Staying healthy during flu season doesn’t have to be hard—just make sure to keep in mind that the flu is going around. The flu and colds can be easily contracted if you don’t take the right precautions. Stay healthy and be well, Syracuse!
Written By Mirren Grimason ’29, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs