Why Everyone Is Sick Right Now

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If it feels like everyone around you is coughing, sniffling, or missing class, it is not just in your head. According to a physician at the Cowell Wellness Center at University of the Pacific, seasonal spikes in illness are expected this time of year.

“There is typically an increase in cases,” the Cowell physician said. “It happens every year as viruses like influenza circulate more easily in shared environments.”

Seasonal illnesses, especially influenza, spread widely on college campuses, and the way students live, study, and socialize makes transmission especially easy.

A Perfect Environment for Viruses

College campuses naturally create ideal conditions for viruses to spread. Students spend long hours in lecture halls, live in close quarters in dorms, and frequently share spaces like dining halls, gyms, and bathrooms.

“Stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, and close proximity to others all contribute,” the Cowell physician said. “These factors weaken the immune system and increase exposure at the same time.”

Research supports this. Studies show that sleep deprivation and chronic stress can suppress immune function, making it harder to fight infections (Irwin, 2015). At the same time, respiratory viruses like the flu spread quickly in crowded environments where people are in close contact.

How Illness Spreads So Quickly

Most seasonal illnesses on campus spread through respiratory droplets released when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks.

“Close proximity is one of the most common ways viruses are transmitted,” the physician explained. “Sharing food or drinks also increases risk.”

But it is not just direct contact. Viruses can also survive on surfaces like desks, doorknobs, and gym equipment for hours, so students can get sick by touching contaminated surfaces and then their face (van Doremalen et al., 2020).

Ventilation also plays a major role. In poorly ventilated classrooms, viral particles can linger in the air, increasing the chances of infection. Dorm bathrooms and shared kitchens are especially high-risk areas because of both close contact and frequent surface use. These combined factors explain why illness can spread so quickly across campus.

Your Immune System Matters

Even with constant exposure, whether you get sick often comes down to your immune system.

“Lack of sleep and stress weaken immune response,” the Cowell physician said. “Alcohol can also have a negative effect.”

Nutrition is another key factor. A balanced diet supports immune function, while deficiencies can make the body more susceptible to illness. Some research suggests that nutrients like vitamin C and zinc may help reduce the severity or duration of symptoms.

What Cowell Wellness Is Seeing

Despite the perception that “everyone is sick,” Cowell Wellness reports that student visits are consistent with typical seasonal patterns.

The most common symptoms students report include cough, sore throat, and congestion. However, many students wait too long before seeking care.

“There’s also a misconception that antibiotics will help,” the physician added. “But antibiotics don’t work on viral infections like colds or the flu.”

Prevention: What Actually Works

While getting sick may feel unavoidable, research shows that simple habits can make a big difference.

Handwashing remains one of the most effective methods to prevent the spread of illness, often more effective than hand sanitizer when done properly. Wearing a mask when sick can also reduce transmission, even for common viruses. Ventilation, like opening windows or improving airflow, helps reduce the amount of virus in the air.

Vaccines, particularly for influenza, also play a major role in reducing the severity and spread of illness.

What Students Can Do

Cowell Wellness emphasizes a few key habits students can adopt right away: Wash your hands regularly, get enough sleep, and eat a balanced diet. If you do get sick, the best approach is simple: rest, stay hydrated, and give your body time to recover.

Students with mild symptoms do not necessarily need to miss class, but they should wear a mask to protect others. However, if symptoms worsen, especially with a high fever, medical attention is important.

The Role of Campus Culture

One often overlooked factor is campus culture.

“There’s pressure to keep going, to not miss class or events,” the physician said. “But that can contribute to the spread.”

Coming to class sick without precautions can expose dozens, even hundreds, of other students in a single day.

Final Takeaway

If it seems like everyone is sick right now, it is because campus life makes it easy for viruses to spread, but that does not mean getting sick is inevitable.

With small, consistent habits like handwashing, sleep, proper nutrition, and being mindful of others, students can significantly reduce their risk.

As the Cowell physician put it, “The basics really do work. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you.”

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Ventilation and respiratory viruses. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ventilation/about/index.html 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Ventilation can reduce exposure to respiratory viruses. https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/ventilation-respiratory-viruses.html 

Dowell, S. F. (2001). Seasonal variation in host susceptibility and cycles of infectious diseases. Emerging Infectious Diseases. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/7/3/01-7301_article.htm 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Preventing the spread of respiratory viruses in public indoor spaces. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/preventing-spread-respiratory-viruses-public-indoor-spaces 

Zhang, X., et al. (2021). Spread of respiratory infections in student dormitories. Science of the Total Environment. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721010500 

Cowell Wellness Center Physician. (2026). Personal interview. University of the Pacific.

Irwin, M. R. (2015). Why sleep is important for health: A psychoneuroimmunology perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 143–172. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115205   

van Doremalen, N., Bushmaker, T., Morris, D. H., Holbrook, M. G., Gamble, A., Williamson, B. N., Tamin, A., Harcourt, J. L., Thornburg, N. J., Gerber, S. I., Lloyd-Smith, J. O., de Wit, E., & Munster, V. J. (2020). Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(16), 1564–1567. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2004973