Around this time of the year it is impossible to walk around and avoid hearing almost every other person coughing, sneezing, sniffling or whining about how they hate being sick. The annual ‘regular’ influenza season that comes every year is not the only unwanted feature 2011 has to offer. The headline ‘Swine Flu! Its back!’ has been causing panic to erupt throughout society in America and the world. However, round two of swine flu might not be as bad as it was last year.

“We’re not looking for it to be as big of a problem as it was, because a lot of people got vaccinated last year for it. We’re looking for a regular flu type season like we normally have. Here in this area, we are just now starting to see the flu, and it has been about half & half… Half have been influenza A and the other half has been influenza B,” Phelps Country Department of Health nurse Monica Clonts said.

Protecting oneself from contracting the swine flu is not a big problem. Other than getting vaccinated, there aren’t many other added on precautions that people have to worry about.

“People can get the flu shot and also just practice good hand sanitizing. They can wash their hands frequently and well during the day, especially before they eat or handle any food. Stay away from sick people; if you get sick with the flu stay home so you don’t spread it,” Clonts said.

Finding a place to get the vaccination isn’t hard for the people of Rolla.

“Check with your physician’s office, the health department and then other places like Walgreens or Wal-Mart that have set up flu vaccines,” Clonts said.

Not everyone is equally at risk for getting swine flu, but the symptoms aren’t much different from the symptoms of influenza.

“Right now we are seeing the ones that are most at risk of getting sick from the flu are our elderly, our very young, and those with poor immune systems. The symptoms of swine flu are a high fever, sore throat, headache, cough, body aches, and chills,” Clonts said.

When advised to go in to get the flu vaccination and/or the swine flu vaccination, those who have a fear of needles have something to be optimistic about: one needle.

“The flu vaccine is mixed this year, so it’s not separate,” Rolla Family Clinic nurse Dawn Tope said.

While it is good to be prepared for the season of sicknesses, there isn’t much need to get worked up.

“I don’t expect anything to be different. We knew about it ahead of time, so I don’t think it will be as bad as last year,” Tope said.