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How does someone get influenza?
Influenza (also known as the flu) is very easy to "catch" and is caused by a virus that spreads from person to person. In the United States,
influenza season usually starts in late fall and lasts throughout the winter, and sometimes into early spring.
Influenza virus is usually spread by the coughing and sneezing of infected persons. Unfortunately, people can transmit infection before they
realize that they are ill. In most cases, adults are infectious from 1 to 2 days before they feel sick until about 5 days after the start of
illness. Children can spread infection even longer—from 6 days before the start of symptoms until at least 10 days after. The average incubation
period between when the virus infects a person and when they feel sick is 2 days.1
Influenza can infect the nose, throat, and lungs causing symptoms such as fever, coughing, chills, sore throat, headache, and muscle aches.
Most people feel very sick for several days, but recover as their body's immune system fights the infection (although they may continue to cough
or feel tired for a week or two afterward).1
Influenza is a serious disease and can result in hospitalization and even death. In fact, one influenza pandemic killed more Americans than all
the wars of the 20th century.2
Sources: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2004;53:1-40. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pandemic influenza. Available on-line at
http://www.hhs.gov/od/nvpo/pandemics/fluprint.htm.
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For U.S. Residents Only
