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CDC Flu Fact Sheet

The flu (influenza) is a contagious respiratory ailment. Various strains have emerged throughout history, most notably the swine flu and the bird flu. Vaccines can be effective in helping people ward off flu viruses.

  1. Symptoms

    • The symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. A dry cough, runny or congested nose, and stomach ailments can also signal influenza.

    Contagious Period

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people are contagious and able to infect others from one day before symptoms develop until five to seven days after symptoms and illness develop. The flu is spread from person to person mainly through an infected person coughing or sneezing into the air, or by people touching objects with flu viruses on them and then touching their mouths or noses.

    Statistics

    • According to the CDC, 5 to 20 percent of the United States population will catch the flu in any given year. Over 200,000 of these people will be hospitalized, while an estimated 36,000 will die from flu-related conditions.

    Complications

    • Influenza can lead to other ailments, such as dehydration, sinus and ear infections, and bacterial pneumonia. It can worsen other conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and congestive heart failure.

    Vaccination

    • There are two types of flu vaccines: one containing the live virus and one containing the killed virus. Injected vaccines use the killed virus and are good for those over 6 months old. The nasal spray vaccine has the live virus and is used for those 2 to 49 years of age who aren't currently pregnant.

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