The flu has killed 60,000 people and hospitalized 120,000 during 2019-2020. 

Thirty-nine of those deaths are children that are particularly vulnerable to the flu along with the elderly, according to ABC news. 

The flu is extremely difficult to treat.

“The flu is caused by a virus, which is why antibiotics don’t help, and since it’s a viral infection, it has to run its course,” science teacher Tina Gragg said. “Viruses go through an active part of their life circle and an inactive part. So a virus will infect a human cell and insert its DNA into that human cell. That cell then gets tricked into making virus parts in addition to its own parts. When that human cell gets full, it ruptures, and all the viruses are now out in your system looking for new cells then it repeats. until so many of your cells are infected that you start to feel sick.” 

To prevent this from happening there are precautions to take and vaccines to get. 

“The best thing to do is to wash your hands,” Chapman nurse Pam Tolleson said.” That means warm water, soap and lots of friction. Friction is what kills germs. If you don’t have water, hand sanitizer is okay, but the best thing is hand washing.” 

If you do get the flu, Tolleson says you should not return to school until you have been fever free for 24 hours.