Campus Health offers support for students through flu season illnesses

When students returned to campus for the spring semester, they found themselves in the middle of cold and flu season.

UNC Campus Health Services has seen 203 confirmed influenza cases, 19 of RSV, 15 of COVID-19 and 14 of strep throat from Dec. 23 through Jan. 23. Dr. Daniel Jobe, a physician and medical director at Campus Health, said that approximately half of Campus Health's flu tests are coming back positive. 

In a statement to The Daily Tar Heel, Jobe wrote  that there have also been increases in the number of common colds and gastrointestinal viral infections in the past week.

Campus Health offers ways to help students, such as testing, immunizations and tips to help keep students safe from infectious diseases. Jobe said the illnesses that are currently prevalent on campus can be preventable if students take the right precautions. 

“I want to make sure everyone knows that Campus Health is available,” Jobe said. “We are fully staffed with providers.”

In accordance with UNC's attendance policy, students with illnesses like the flu and COVID-19 are still required to attend class.

Hunter Williams, a first-year pre-pharmacy student who had been feeling unwell, said he wished the University would be more lenient on the attendance policy so students wouldn’t have to go to class and risk getting others sick. 

Campus Health has resources for students dealing with common respiratory illnesses and in need of medicine or preventative action. 

First-year Katherine Bray said she scheduled an appointment at Campus Health last semester because she was worried she might have had the flu.

"Everyone was very helpful and nice," Bray said. "It was very quick too; they were speedy. I was in and out. I didn't get any medicine for it, because all my tests came back negative."

Some students leave campus when they are sick to find health care elsewhere. Rebekah Ward, a first-year majoring in exercise and sports science and sociology, said whenever she would get sick, she would return to her hometown and see a doctor. 

“If you do notice someone is sick, try not to be close to them,” Ward said. “But it would help if professors would be more lenient with missing days.” 

Jobe said students can take actions to avoid getting sick or infecting others, including wearing masks and frequently washing their hands. Additionally, he said students can still get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

Campus Health provides in-person and online resources to be able to assist students with what they need. The center's mission is to provide expert student-centered, all-inclusive health care to support academic and personal success. 

Jobe said Campus Health generally has same-day availability for students with acute illnesses. Students can schedule appointments online, by phone, or walk-in if needed. Their building is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“If someone goes to our online scheduler and doesn't see an open appointment, I'd ask that they give us a call, because we can usually get them in, even if it's not showing on that system,” Jobe said. “We can usually make arrangements.”

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