Harvard Sees Surge in Flu Cases Following National Trend

When H. Arman Lateef ’27 contracted the flu early this month, he was told at CVS that medication prescribed to him by Harvard University Health Services was on national backorder.

“I called on Monday right after I got prescribed, and they were like, ‘Yeah, the actual medicine the doctor prescribed you is on national backorder. We don’t know when we’re gonna get it,’” said Lateef, a member of The Crimson's Business board.

“A day later, I got a call from them back saying they just got the medications,” he added.

As students return to campus, the flu — as well as Covid-19, respiratory syncytial virus, and strep throat — have all peaked nationally. According to the Center for Disease Control, hospitalizations for the flu hit a 15-year high earlier this month.

In Massachusetts, the CDC has been reporting “very high” severity since Feb. 1. And according to the Mass. Department of Public Health, 11.8 percent of all patients during the first week of February saw doctors for flu symptoms, up from 4.6 percent last year and 1.7 percent in 2023.

HUHS spokesperson Tiffanie Green wrote in an emailed statement that the “increased prevalence is being reflected within the Harvard community.”

Green added that influenza infections can cause fatigue, aches, and other respiratory symptoms that can last for one to two weeks.

HUHS offers discounted medical supplies such as antigen tests, cold medication, and pain relievers for Harvard ID holders through the ScriptCenter in the Smith Campus Center.

Saphina K. Chisek-Singh ’28, who went to HUHS urgent care for treatment for the flu, decided not to take flu medication, and said she was overall “pretty happy” with the care provided.

“I obviously had a pretty high fever, so they gave me an IV drip,” Chisek-Singh said. “They also took my blood to see if it was infections or anything. But then they were like flu tests came back positive.”

Crimson staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer ’28, who had the flu earlier this month, said he knew several people that also contracted Influenza.

“The flu is going around, and I feel like I was one of the early cases,” Boehmer said. “Every day, I find out another person has it.”

“I did have to go to HUHS because I thought I was going to die,” he added.

—Staff writer Sophia Y King can be reached at sophia.king@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @sophia_kingg.

—Staff writer Anneliese S. Mattox can be reached at anneliese.mattox@thecrimson.com.