WAYNE, Neb. (KTIV) -
The flu is now in all 50 states. And, even with warnings from health officials, it's hitting some places harder than others. But the flu is not only disrupting classes, it's taking on a bigger toll at Wayne State College.
"I wash my hands after I play the piano," Rachel Sweeney a piano student at Wayne State College said.
Rachel Sweeney is one of the lucky ones who hasn't caught the flu, but she says it's still affecting her school schedule.
"We had a lot of classes canceled and stuff because the professors were sick so we just couldn't go to class," Sweeney said
And not only have some classes been canceled, but big events, too like the Wayne State Choir Festival.
"This stage is where hundreds of students from all over Nebraska would have performed, but due to the flu, the event was canceled," Jacqueline Quynh said.
It was an event held every year so that high school students could attend workshops and learn from Wayne State faculty. One professor says the school is very disappointed it couldn't reschedule.
"Our choral director had the flu last week, and ended up not being able to come to rehearsals to prepare our choir, and also some of our choral members were sick and our staff accompanist also got the flu," Linda Christensen, Professor of Music at Wayne State College said.
College officials admit it's hard to stop the flu from spreading.
"As the epidemic accelerated we sent out emails to campus reminding people, basic they can do wash your hands, use hand sanitizer.
"I drank a ton of orange juice, I hate orange juice but I really didn't want to get sick so I drank a bunch of orange juice the week everybody was sick," Sweeney said.
While missing class isn't a good thing, campus health officials are telling students to simply stay home if they are sick.
When you look beyond Wayne State's music department, campus officials say the number of students and teachers with the flu is about average.
Wayne State College student says she washes her hands right after practicing keyboard on campus to avoid flu.
