The flu has hit Uni quite hard this year. When you’re walking down the hallway or learning in class, there’s always someone coughing or blowing their nose.

According to the main office, 37 people were absent yesterday, 12 today, and an average of 20 people a day have been out for the past week.

Everyone gets mono, strep throat, the cold, and the flu probably sometime during their life. Although these infections can be serious, most people can often recover in just a week.

On the three-day weekend before Agora Days, I acquired a high fever and an unpleasantly severe sore throat. During that weekend, I was hoping to work on my long-term papers, invite my friends over, and have lots of fun.

Unfortunately, my Sunday and Monday became sleep days. I never left my bed, and just watched time pass by. I was frustrated how I couldn’t do anything. Whenever I tried to read something, I would soon put it down from headaches.

After a visit to the doctor, I soon discovered I might have either strep throat or mono. I was quite surprised, as both of these illnesses are quite serious.

Fortunately for me, both the strep-throat test and mono blood test turned out to be negative. My doctor said I probably had just caught the flu and that I should get enough rest and take it easy. I began feeling much better after Agora Days but still haven’t fully recovered yet, as I’m currently still coughing.

Deaths caused by the flu, mono, or cold are very rare, but when one becomes sick, it is important to get a good rest for a full and quick recovery. If you find yourself developing a sore throat or catching a cold, make sure to drink lots of fluids, take it easy, and consult your doctor if needed.

Note: This entry originally contained a reference to a Daily Illini article about a U of I student who recently died. As it now appears that the DI article contained a significant factual error, we have deleted both the link and the reference to the student.