Even though the threat of a flu epidemic received national attention in November and December, the official flu season is just beginning.

Richard McGarvey, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, explained that although there were widespread cases of the flu before the season began, doctors are still reporting flu activity in their hospitals and offices.

In a normal year, an average of 10 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu, but it is still unclear whether or not the number of reported cases of flu have reached a peak just yet, McGarvey said.

Ellen Nagy, marketing manager of University Health Services (UHS), said at Penn State, the flu arrived much earlier than usual. This is the first time in several years that the university has seen lab-confirmed cases of the flu, she added.

Nagy could not predict if more cases would be seen as students returned to campus, but she was hopeful that the winter break would help cut down on reported cases.

"It would be wonderful if this four-week break put a stop to its spread around campus, but we simply don't know what will happen," she said. "Students could have been exposed at home and have brought the flu back with them as well."

While there are a large number of students interacting daily at Penn State, the risk of catching the flu is really no greater than anywhere else in the state, McGarvey said.

"Even though students are in classes together and intermingling daily, so do most people that have a job or go to high school or preschool; the risk is about the same for everybody," he said.

While flu risk may be relatively the same for all Pennsylvanians, Penn State students are at a greater risk for getting sick in general, said Edward Rosick, a UHS physician.

"Viral patterns vary in different geographical areas, and our immune systems are primed for illnesses to which we are usually exposed," he said. "By the second week of classes, we see more students who are sick due to exposure to people from other areas."

The flu remains a problem at Penn State because students are living in close quarters in dorms or apartments and have greater contact with each other, Nagy said. In addition, sharing utensils and glasses can also be a possible means of spreading the flu.

Students are also advised to be careful about touching door handles, stair railings or desks and tables and then touching their nose or mouth.

Hand washing is sometimes overlooked, and this is a common way that people become sick, McGarvey said.

"Don't touch your face unless you have washed your hands, or you risk passing the virus from your hands to your body," he said. "It's amazing how often people touch their face and don't even realize it."

The simplest way to prevent catching the flu is hand washing, Nagy said. The flu virus can spread through water droplets in the air as well, so staying away from people who are obviously sick is recommended, she added.

Also, practical, daily hygiene such as getting enough sleep and eating well can sometimes help strengthen the immune system, which helps the body fight illness, Nagy said.

Rosick suggested taking a multivitamin every day and avoiding smoking, especially when already sick, because it lowers the strength of the immune system.

A great deal of data has been collected on the effectiveness of hand washing in preventing all illnesses, Nagy said, and UHS will soon be undertaking a campaign to make students aware of this simple preventative measure.

Nagy also stressed the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu virus. Twenty-two hundred students were vaccinated before winter break, and Nagy urges even more to schedule an appointment for vaccination in the first few weeks of classes.

While UHS doesn't know yet what the demand for the vaccine will be, Nagy said that supplies of the injectable vaccine are exhausted across the country.

Replacing the needle is a new type of vaccine called FluMist, which is a flu vaccine administered through a simple nasal spray, Nagy said. Unlike a traditional flu vaccine, which is made up of a dead strain of the virus, FluMist is composed of weakened living strains to help the body develop a resistance. Almost all students, with the exception of those with chronic illnesses, can use FluMist.

It takes approximately two weeks for FluMist to become effective. Interested students should contact UHS at 863-0774 to schedule an appointment for vaccination.

Without the vaccine, all students run the risk of contracting the flu virus. And although the injectable vaccine has run out, students should still protect themselves, Nagy said.

"Students should absolutely call for an appointment," she said. "It would have been better in October or November, but they should still consider taking preventative measures to stay healthy."