‘Twas the week before winter break and all through the school, noses are running and people are not feeling well.

That’s right, it is flu season. 

Covid-19 has been the virus on people’s minds for the last two years now, but the flu can not be ignored this year. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) reported that the number of influenza (flu) viruses detected escalated by almost 21% in the last two weeks. Doctors are predicting that this year’s flu season will have the highest number of cases in the last three years. This sounds scary, which is why it is imperative that people take the right steps to preventing the spread of the flu. 

The CDC released information about past flu seasons It shows that washing your hands thoroughly and regularly can reduce the spread of viruses between 23-40%. 

In an investigative study during second period, 22 male students used the bathroom, and only six washed their hands. This is how sickness spreads among classmates and eventually the entire school. Even though people are taught from a very young age to wash their hands, some students still ignore the simple task. What they don’t realize is that washing your hands is the number one flu prevention method, and only takes 30 seconds. Scientists say that washing your hands is most important after using the bathroom for obvious reasons. Leaving the bathroom with bacteria all over your hands can result in you or even your classmates getting sick. 

Other ways to prevent the spread is to get the annual flu shot, avoid close contact with people who are sick, cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, but most importantly wash your hands.