Key facts about seasonal influenza

  • Published
  • 66th Medical Squadron, Public Health
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Note: Flu season will soon be here, so the following are some key facts about seasonal flu, provided by the 66th Medical Squadron's Public Health office.

What is influenza "flu", and how does it differ from the common cold?
The flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. The flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. In the United States, on average, 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications and about 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related causes.

How does the flu spread and how long is one contagious?
The flu is spread from person to person in respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or spreads the virus into the air and then another person inhales the virus. A person can also get the flu by touching a surface with virus-containing droplets that someone with the flu has touched, such as a door knob, stair railing or telephone, and then putting that finger or hand in contact with the nose, mouth or eyes. Most people who get influenza will recover in a few days to less than two weeks. People with the flu are contagious one day before their symptoms start and for up to five days after getting sick.

What are the symptoms of the flu?
The flu starts suddenly and may include some of the following: fever, usually high from 102 to 104 degrees, extreme tiredness, severe muscle aches, dry cough, sore throat and a runny or stuffy nose. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, may be found in children.

Prevention Measures:
1) Get Vaccinated: the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: H3N2, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season. Additional information on availability of the flu vaccine will be advertised soon.

2) Avoid close contact: avoid close contact with people who are sick. Those that are sick should keep a distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

3) Cover the mouth and nose: cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those who are close by from getting sick.

4) Clean hands: washing hands often will help protect from germs.

5) Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth: germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

6) Practice other good health habits: get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

For more information on the flu visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov/flu, www.mass.gov/flu or contact the Public Health office at 781-377-2095 or 781-377-8084.