With millions now gearing up for Freshers Week, excitement is in the air, but amid the welcome fairs and student nights lurks a less glamorous tradition: freshers’ flu. Every year, countless students find themselves suddenly under the weather, struggling with sore throats, sniffles, and fatigue just days into their new university adventure. So, what exactly is freshers’ flu, and how can students avoid it?
Student accommodation provider Canvas has teamed up with Dikshya Khada, Public Health Expert with a Master’s in Global Health Management, to reveal the truth about freshers’ flu and share practical tips to help students stay healthy this Freshers’ season.
What is freshers’ Flu?
Typically running from mid to late September, Freshers Week is the annual welcome period for new students, packed with social events, club nights, and introductory activities.
Dikshya comments: “freshers’ flu isn’t actually the flu, it’s a nickname for a cluster of cold-like symptoms commonly experienced by first-year students: sore throat, runny or blocked nose, nausea, fatigue, sometimes fever. The phenomenon is widely recognised in British student culture and has been part of university conversation since the late 1990s.
Why Freshers’ week is a germ hotspot:
Dikshya points to three contributing factors:
- New exposures: Students meet hundreds of people from across the UK and beyond, each carrying a variety of viruses.
- Immune strain: Late nights, poor diet, and alcohol consumption leave the body more vulnerable to infection.
- Stress and environment: The mix of academic pressure, homesickness, and disrupted routines can further undermine immunity.
Five expert tips to help avoid Freshers’ Flu:
According to Dikshya, students can lower their chances of getting freshers’ Flu by:
1. Planning wisely: It’s important to enjoy Fresher’s Week, but schedule social events in advance with rest periods in between to avoid burnout, which can increase your odds of Freshers’ flu.
2. Prioritising sleep: With all the excitement in those first few weeks, it can be easy to think you can function off a couple of hours of sleep in order not to miss out on the action. However, it’s important to aim for at least eight hours of sleep to support immune function.
3. Eating well and staying hydrated: Eating balanced meals packed with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins provides your body with essential vitamins and minerals that help keep your immune system strong. Don’t skip meals, even when you’re busy with lectures and social events. Staying hydrated is just as important. Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins, keeps your energy levels up, and prevents dehydration.
4. Avoiding shared utensils or containers: When you’re living with new people in halls or at social events, it’s easy to unknowingly share germs through common items like cutlery, cups, or food containers. Using your own utensils and avoiding communal dips, snacks, or drinks can significantly reduce the chance of picking up bacteria or viruses from others.
5. Disinfecting shared areas: Bacteria and viruses can easily linger on surfaces like countertops, sinks, door handles, and taps, increasing the risk of illness. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting these student accommodation areas, especially in kitchens where food is prepared and bathrooms where germs thrive, helps stop the spread of infections like freshers’ flu.
