By Lena LaJoy
When students arrive back on campus, close contact from communal living, busy dining halls, studying and extracurricular activities all play a role in the spread of sickness. Since UMD is such a large school, contagious sickness spreads quickly and impacts many.
Tracy Kiras, director of strategic communications and marketing, who responded on behalf of the University Health Center, said that the spread of sickness at the beginning of the year is not uncommon, especially due to seasonal factors.
“The start of the academic year coincides with the onset of upper respiratory virus season, which can contribute to an increase in illness during this time,” Kiras said.
Most symptoms students experienced due to this sickness were associated with extreme colds.
Sophomore computer science major Emily Noel said her symptoms started with a sore throat but turned into a fever the next day. After four days, the fever broke and she then had a cough and congestion.
“I had a fever and it was 102, and then that stuck around all throughout Tuesday,” Noel said.
In most cases, severe cold symptoms are worse at the beginning of a sickness and slowly lessen.
“Symptoms typically peak between days three and five, then plateau before improving in seven to 10 days,” Kiras said.
The current spike in sickness aligns with data from last year, which suggests this is a yearly occurrence. Kiras said that this September, 331 patients visited the UHC with upper respiratory illness, and 405 patients visited in September of 2024.
To combat this sickness, freshman business major Mara Glazer took extra supplements to boost her immune system.
“I drank a lot of orange juice and Emergen-C and I’ve been taking elderberry gummies, which help with immunity,” Glazer said.
Kiras said that to prevent sickness from spreading, students should wash their hands, wear masks, eat healthy, sleep well and get a flu shot to prevent further illness.
This sickness not only causes students physical ailments, it also impacts their class attendance. Noel said she stayed home from class one day because she was too sick.
UMD provides resources for sick students through the UHC, and Hillel and Chabad also provide aid.
“Hillel and Chabad are Jewish organizations here and they do chicken soup deliveries,” Glazer said.
Kiras urged students to seek medical attention when symptoms arise, and she said to stay home and rest if needed.
“Early intervention can shorten illness duration and help prevent spreading it to others,” Kiras said.
Featured Image: A student listening on headphones wears a mask while working on a laptop. Photo by: Ella Buchanan