Flu sufferers will run a fever as high as 104 degrees, while cold sufferers might feel only slightly feverish. The figures increase during a pandemic, or global epidemic. The last pandemic occurred in 1918 with 20 million deaths globally. The CDC cites troop movement during World War I for furthering the pandemic, although it was started through pigs and birds, who are conducive to contracting strains of influenza. Similar pandemics occurred in 1957 with 70,000 national deaths, and in 1968 with 34,000 national deaths.
Smaller epidemics happen more frequently than pandemics, with one occurring every two to four years.
Perry said she doesn't know of the last epidemic, but still suggested the general student population get the vaccine, due to influenza's highly contagious nature. Copyright 1999 - Maryland Media, Inc.