With students back in their residence halls, health officials are warning them to take precautions so they don't catch new forms of bacterias and viruses that spread over winter break.

At least half the people who come to Campus Health during January and February come because of cold and flu symptoms, said Carrie Torrington, a registered nurse at Campus Health Services.

With a high volume of travel during winter break, people have been exposed to new viral and bacterial strains that are brought back to Tucson, said Leeann Hamilton, a health educator.

"The plane trip back to Tucson can also be a source of exposure since you are in a small, contained space for hours with sick people," Hamilton said.

Zach Schultz, a communication senior, returned to campus with a virus he caught over winter break.

"I got sick over the break, and I am just getting over it right now," Schultz said. "I worry about getting sick all the time because I get the flu every year."

The flu season hit the country hard in late November, but Torrington said it might not reach its peak for another month.

"The flu season hit campus early, right before Thanksgiving, but traditionally peaks in late January and into February," Torrington said.

If you know you're sick, everybody would be better off if you just stay home and don't infect others ö Leeann Hamilton health educator

The chance of transferring an illness is easy with people living in residence halls, using community bathrooms and sharing a room with another person, Hamilton said.

"The number one thing is washing hands after using the bathrooms for people living in the residence halls," Hamilton said.

Torrington said that stress can also make students more susceptible to illness.

"Freshmen tend to have higher stress levels because it is their first year and may weaken their immune systems, so it's even more important for them to take the necessary precautions," Torrington said.

Jasmine Hobeheidar, a molecular and cellular biology freshman, said she worries about getting sick because she lives in the residence halls.

"The virus doesn't leave the building. It travels down the wing, and everybody is bound to get sick," Hobeheidar said.

But Elizabeth Rodock, a psychology sophomore, said she is not worried about spreading germs.

"It's more of an elementary school thing than college," Rodock said.

To lower the chances of getting sick, Torrington recommended that students have a proper diet, get adequate amounts of sleep, wash their hands and get a flu shot.

Campus Health ran out of the flu vaccine because the early arrival of the flu season received a lot of publicity, Torrington said. But it can refer students to other clinics.

If students do get sick, they can arrange an appointment at Campus Health to get flu kits that contain cough drops, nasal decongestants and Kleenex.

Besides paying a visit to the doctor, students with the flu or a cold should stay at home, Hamilton said.

"If you know you're sick, everybody would be better off if you just stay home and don't infect others," she said.

Appointments at Campus Health should be arranged one to two days in advance at 621-9202. Students can walk in for urgent care.

Campus Health has a new location in the Highland District at East Sixth Street and North Highland Avenue, next to the Sixth Street Garage. For more information about the cold and flu, visit the Campus Health Web site at health.arizona.edu/hottopics.htm or the Pima County Health Web site at pimahealth.org.