Community Health Officer Milo Sini warned students about the upcoming flu and cold season and advised them to stay healthy in an email this morning.

The flu is a highly contagious disease that affects the lungs, nose and throat. Common symptoms include a fever, cough, sore throat, headache and exhaustion.

In order to avoid spreading germs around campus, Sini said that it is important that students adhere to safe practices, such as staying home when sick, avoiding sharing personal items and covering coughs and sneezes with tissues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year’s flu season began earlier than usual and is expected to affect more people.

Many students said that they have noticed an increased number of sick students on campus.

“I think the reason that so many people are sick right now is because a lot of people have been coming to school when they were not feeling well and spreading their germs around campus, which definitely isn’t the best thing for the community,” Kerry Neil ’19 said.