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Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.

Flu is unpredictable and how severe it is can vary widely from one season to the next depending on many things, including:

Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications if they get the flu. This includes older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease).Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.

Yearly flu vaccination should begin soon after flu vaccine is available, and ideally by October. However, getting vaccinated even later can be protective, as long as flu viruses are circulating.

The viruses can also be spread when a person touches a surface with flu viruses on it (for example, a door handle) and then touches his or her nose or mouth. 

A person who has the flu can spread viruses - that means they are contagious. Adults may be contagious from 1 day before feeling sick to up to 7 days after getting sick.

Children can be contagious for longer than 7 days. 

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too. 

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then put your used tissue in a wastebasket.  It may prevent those around you from getting sick. 

If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your  hands.  Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.  Clean your hands   Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.  Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.  Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers in your bag and car, when soap and water is not available.  Avoid touching your 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.  Stay home when you are sick  If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.   Practice healthy habits  Get regular exercise, enough rest, and eat healthy balanced meals.  Other habits for good health  3. Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them. Four antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir, and oseltamivir) can be used to prevent influenza. All of these medications are prescription drugs, and a doctor must be consulted before using them.  More Information  Smoking and Influenza  - Some studies show that smokers are more likely to get the flu, and there is a higher mortality rate from the flu among smokers than among nonsmokers.  Protecting Against the Flu: Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old - Because infants cannot get vaccine or antiviral drugs but are at higher risk for serious flu complications, protecting them from flu is especially important.  Cover your Cough - Flyers available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Chinese, Hmong, and Khmer 

Children between 6 months and 8 years of age may need two doses of flu vaccine to be fully protected from flu. Discuss this with your child's healthcare provider.

The best time to get the flu vaccine is soon after it becomes available in the fall of each year.

The exposure to the inactivated influenza virus helps our bodies develop protection by producing antibodies

amount of antibodies in the body is greatest one to two months after vaccination

two weeks for the body to develop immunity to influenza.

FluMist is a nasal spray approved to protect people from getting the flu.

s made from live but weakened virus strains.

people ages 2-49.

not been proven safe for high risk populations.

Practice Good Health Habits

The most common way to catch the flu is to touch your own eyes, nose or mouth with germy hands.

We highly recommend that you stay home from work, school and public places when you are sick. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing, but never your hand. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

vaccination with either the flu shot or the nasal spray is considered safe.

If the nasal spray vaccine is used, contact with anyone in this high-risk group should be avoided for 7 days.

Immunization with the inactivated virus (flu shot) is preferred over the nasal spray vaccine for close contacts of people with severely impaired immune systems during times when a protected environment is needed.

You should not get the nasal spray if you:

Have lung disease, including asthma.

Have a condition (such as a seizure disorder or cerebral palsy) that can cause breathing or swallowing problems.

Are younger than age 20 and you take aspirin or products with aspirin in them.

Even if a flu vaccine does not prevent the flu, it can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and decrease the risk of complications.

flu shot results in fewer days missed from work and fewer visits to a doctor for respiratory infections, and it reduces the number of people who develop complications from the flu, such as pneumonia.2

flu vaccine can help protect the babies of women who got the vaccine while they were pregnant.3, 4

Some do not get the vaccine because of myths they believe about the flu or the vaccines. These include beliefs that the flu is a minor illness or that the vaccine causes the flu.

The shot may cause side effects, such as soreness or fever, but they are usually minor and do not last long.

type of flu shot (Fluzone Intradermal) is available that uses a much smaller needle than a regular flu shot.

it is injected into the skin instead of into a muscle. This usually causes less discomfort at the time of the shot. People 18 to 64 years old can get this shot. But it may not be available everywhere.

If you are exposed to or caring for someone with the flu, talk to your doctor about preventive antiviral medications.

Everyone 6 months of age or older should get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available in your area.

There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu.

Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.

ry to avoid close contact with sick people.

Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

If you are healthy but exposed to a person with the flu, antiviral drugs can prevent you from getting sick. 

contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.

best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year

virus types A, B, and C.

ncluding ducks, chickens, pigs, and horses. Influenza B viruses circulate widely only among humans.

spirin should never be used to treat flu-like symptoms in children.

coughing or sneezing by people infected with influenza.

spread mainly from person to person

by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their mouth or nose.

Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults).

here are some actions you can take at home, such as getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of liquids, avoiding alcohol and tobacco use, and taking medication to relieve the symptoms of flu.

nclude bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

f you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

Take flu antiviral drugs

more than 200,000 individuals are hospitalized and between 3,000-49,000 die from influenza-related complications.

est way to protect against influenza is to receive an influenza vaccination every year.

ix months of age and older receive an annual vaccination.

is in the early fall, as soon as the vaccine is available.

Influenza virus is very contagious.

Epidemics peak during the winter months

Most influenza cases occur during epidemics.

With influenza, the virus usually has mutated (changed) somewhat since the first infection.

The most common types of influenza virus are A and B. Influenza A is the one usually responsible for the annual epidemics.

A particularly widespread and severe epidemic is called a pandemic.

With many other types of infections, having the disease once protects against a second infection.

That is because the body's immune system remembers the returning virus. It attacks it immediately, and rapidly eliminates it.

Most people get multiple flu infections during their lives.

Flu can cause a variety of symptoms. They can be mild or severe. Symptoms and severity depend on the type of virus, your age and overall health.

Chills Moderate to high fever (101 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit) Sore throat Runny nose Muscle aches Headaches Fatigue Cough Diarrhea Dizziness

Vaccination — Vaccination can reduce your chances of getting the flu and transmitting it to others. Vaccination each year is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older.

Good hygiene — The virus usually is passed through the air, by coughing. It also is passed by direct contact, such as shaking hands or kissing.

Antiviral drugs — Zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can substantially reduce your chance of getting the flu if they are taken just before an expected outbreak.