Main content
Tips to keep healthy during cold and flu season
young woman wearing a face mask getting hand sanitizer from a wall dispenser

— Photo from Getty Images, FatCamera

The beginning of spring semester comes in the midst of cold and flu season, and this year's flu activity is already higher compared to the past several years.

Georgia has had twice as many influenza-related hospitalizations and four times the number of outbreaks in this flu season so far, compared to the same time period last year, according to data from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

“As we all return to campus for the spring semester, an increase in flu in our community may result,” notes Dr. Sharon Rabinovitz, director of Emory’s Student Health Services. “Luckily, there are steps we can take to keep ourselves and each other well.”

Rabinovitz recommends the following tips to help you stay healthy during this season.


Make prevention a priority

Prevention is key to keeping yourself healthy and others safe. Here are the top ways to protect yourself from catching a respiratory illness this season:

  • Practice self-care: Getting adequate sleep, maintaining balanced nutrition, managing stress and exercising regularly will support your immune system to protect you from illness and assist in a faster recovery.
  • Get vaccinated: The updated flu vaccine is the best defense for preventing infection and decreasing the severity of illness for the new variants of flu this year. It may not prevent all infections, but it will mitigate the severity and risk of hospitalization.
  • Be aware: If your friend has not been feeling well, leave your support to a text thread and give them time to isolate and recover. If you are feeling sick yourself, stay home and don’t attend large events. Get a thermometer so you can confirm when you have a fever and take steps to minimize your exposure to others if you do.
  • Wear a mask: Masks are a valuable tool to protect yourself from infections and prevent spreading them to others if you are sick. If you are under the weather or in a public space where you may be exposed to someone who is ill, mask usage is a solid defense.
  • Wash your hands: Whether you use soap and water or antibacterial sanitizer, regular hand washing prevents the spread of germs. 
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth: Germs are easily spread if a person touches a contaminated object and then touches their eye, nose or mouth.

If you feel sick

If you find yourself feeling unwell, there are many ways to access care at Emory.

  • For mild respiratory symptoms, practice home care.
  • For most cases of the flu, drinking plenty of fluids and taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen, along with time and rest, is all you need.
  • Home tests are available through a pharmacy to confirm a case of the flu.
  • For those at higher risk for complications related to these viruses or if you live with someone who is immunocompromised, it is most effective if you access care in a timely manner (within 48 hours) to start antivirals as decided upon by the physician or advanced practice provider.
  • For moderate or severe respiratory symptoms, access care through Student Health ServicesTimelyCare or local urgent care centers.
  • For severe symptoms which include shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, etc., go to the local emergency room.

Before returning to your regular social schedule, be sure you meet criteria to end isolation, which include:

  • Fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication (like Advil or Tylenol)
  • Significantly improving symptoms

If you are a student and need to miss class for illness, please follow the guidance of your school regarding absences (listed under Academic Support Resources).

Visit the Student Health Services respiratory virus resource page for more information about preventing illness and what to do if you get sick.

Recent News