Flu Outbreak in GeorgiaBy SARAH BROWN
Staff Writer
From 2009-2010, the H1N1 virus was widespread in the United States. AJC.com re- ported that Georgia is one of the 29 states with the highest levels of flu activity.
The flu season, which officially begins in October, be- gan early in 2012 and ended later that year with 2,122 con- firmed cases, according to the Georgia Department of Pub- lic Health.
Statistics from Georgia De- partment of Public Health show that from Dec. 23 to Dec. 29, 2012, influenza was widespread in Georgia, causing 59 hospitalizations in the metro area alone. To prevent from contracting influenza, officials recommend receiving the flu vaccine.
While some students here at Piedmont College are skeptical about receiving the vaccination, others had no choice.
Sophomore theatre education major Jason Sheffield said that he had to receive the flu shot before he left for South Africa near the beginning of the spring semester.
“That was the first flu shot I have ever had in my entire life,” said Sheffield. “And I think that it is an unnecessary thing to get. I wouldn’t have gotten it if I didn’t need the shot to go to South Africa.”
In Sheffield’s case, it was mandatory for him to board the plane to travel to South Africa,but for those students who remained in the United States before the spring semester began, they had the choice whether or not to take
action against the serious outbreak.
Photo by MEGAN STUDDARD
“I refuse to get the flu shot,” said freshman biology major Mikaela Cochran. “It contains chemical compounds that are extremely harmful to the human body. I think, on the other hand, Piedmont has a great idea by putting Lysol and hand sanitizer in the dorms and around campus. By doing this, they have put the tools to defend the students into their own hands, so they can do what they feel is necessary to protect themselves.”