This post was updated Oct. 24 at 9:25 p.m.

Many Bruins might find themselves with a runny nose, dry cough or burning fever as the seasons change.

Moving into a new environment, engaging in larger social gatherings and juggling fast-changing schedules at the start of a new academic year can lead students to fall sick. Bruins can protect themselves from illnesses like the flu through the university’s health services and resources.

Philip Massey, an associate professor of community health sciences, said students often get sick in the fall because they come into close contact with more people during the school year as opposed to the summer months.

“Any time you get a lot of people together in one place, infectious diseases more easily spread, be it in dormitories and classrooms and buildings,” Massey said.

In addition to more frequent face-to-face interactions, fall quarter marks a period of significant lifestyle changes for students. For instance, those who are living away from home for the first time may experience new academic and social stressors, which can weaken their immune systems and make them more susceptible to illnesses, according to The Washington Post. Additionally, the increased frequency and scale of social gatherings that come with being in college can contribute to the rapid spread of illnesses, according to the same source.

One common illness students combat every year is the flu. The flu, or influenza, is a contagious respiratory infection with symptoms including sore throats, stuffy noses, headaches and muscle aches, according to the Mayo Clinic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu can spread both directly and indirectly, with symptoms typically surfacing within one to four days of infection. Indirect infection can occur when someone with the virus coughs or sneezes, while direct infection can occur when someone touches their eyes or mouth immediately after coming in contact with a surface that has the flu virus on it, according to the same source.

The flu virus is more prevalent from October through May because of the virus’ proliferation in colder temperatures, according to the Mayo Clinic. A Johns Hopkins Medicine article states that colder temperatures often correlate to more time spent indoors, enabling the virus to spread more easily. The drier atmosphere during colder months can also hinder the body’s ability to fight off infection by dehydrating the oral airways and passages that catch viruses, according to Northwestern Medicine.

Despite the various symptoms students may feel, there are many practices they can adopt to stay healthy.

According to the CDC, covering coughs, washing hands frequently and staying home can help with speedy recovery from the flu and similar infections. Cleaning frequently touched surfaces, such as sink counters, door handles and desks in dormitories, can also help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, according to the same source.

Additionally, Massey said individual hygiene and sufficient rest can help students stay healthy.

“One thing that college students may struggle with is sleep,” Massey said. “Getting a decent night’s sleep is really important to have a strong immune system.”

Getting vaccinated is another way for students to protect themselves from the flu and other illnesses in the fall.

The flu vaccine injects a weakened version of the flu virus to train the immune system to recognize the virus and develop a specific protein to fight against it, according to the CDC. The flu vaccine must be renewed every year because the strain of the virus that most commonly infects people changes annually, according to the same source.

Shira Shafir, an associate professor of epidemiology and community health sciences, said scientists work to predict the version of the flu virus that will be prevalent that year and develop a vaccine based on that prediction. She added that vaccines are important because of their role in developing herd immunity.

For UCLA, Shafir said over 60% of students and staff must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity against the flu on campus.

“It’s a protection of the whole group based on the protection of most,” she said. “Essentially, what herd immunity does is it reduces the chance that someone who is infectious, who can transmit the disease, comes into contact with someone who is susceptible or capable of getting infected.”

Bruins can use the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center’s services for illness prevention and treatment. The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available at the Ashe Center by appointment. All UCLA students must be immunized for the flu, COVID-19 and other diseases each academic year, according to the Ashe Center.

Katherine Alvarado, a UCLA spokesperson, said in an emailed statement that vaccines are free for students enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan and cost $25 for those who have waived the plan. The Ashe Center also offers online and in-person appointments for students who are feeling ill, along with services to obtain both over-the-counter and prescription medication, she added in the statement.

“The Ashe Center’s services are available to all registered UCLA students regardless of insurance type,” she said in the statement. “Students who waived UCSHIP have the option of sending an itemized statement to their private insurance plan for possible reimbursement for services received at The Ashe Center.”

Shafir said despite protective measures like vaccines, it’s important for students who feel ill to seek treatment and be cautious of viral transmissions.

“It is the responsibility of each Bruin to protect every Bruin,” she said. “Making sure that you don’t pass on the infection is a really important aspect of health as we return to campus in the fall.”