Flu Facts

Seasonal influenza — or flu — is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, chills, extreme exhaustion, and weakness.

How Is the Flu Spread?
Flu is spread through coughing or sneezing. You can also get it by touching objects that are carrying the virus, such as telephones and door knobs, and then touching your mouth or nose. Wash your hands often and teach children to do the same. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others one day before their own symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick.

How Many People Get the Flu?
Each year, according to CDC, an average of 5% to 20% of the U.S. population gets the flu. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications. There are about 36,000 flu-related deaths each year.

Are There Serious Complications From the Flu?
Most people recover from the flu within one to two weeks. But some develop serious complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

Who Is at Higher Risk For Flu Complications?
Some individuals—particularly elderly people, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions—are at higher risk for flu-related complications. Vaccination of these groups and of health care personnel is critical.

Can You Get the Flu From a Flu Shot?
No. Although some people get a mild fever, body aches, and fatigue for a few days, you can't get the flu from a flu shot. Soreness at the injection site is a common side effect of the flu shot

Should I Get a Flu Shot?
Talk to your local health care professional, they’ll probably tell you that Vaccination is the key component of influenza prevention.

There are two kinds of influenza vaccines:
1. The flu shot contains inactivated, or killed, influenza viruses. 2. The nasal vaccine is known by the trade name of FluMist. It contains weakened, live viruses, and is sprayed into both nostrils.

Autumn is the best time to get vaccinated, although getting the vaccine in the winter months when flu season often peaks is also recommended.

The FDA has approved six vaccines for the 2008-2009 flu season. All are for use against influenza disease caused by influenza virus types A and B. They are:

Afluria, for adults 18 years of age and older
Fluarix, for adults 18 years of age and older
FluLaval, for adults 18 years of age and older
Fluvirin, for people 4 years of age and older
Fluzone, for people 6 months of age and older
FluMist, for people ages 2 to 49

Manufacturers of the six vaccines project about 146 million doses will be available for this influenza season, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each season's vaccines are modified to reflect the virus strains most likely to be circulating and cause the flu.

In an unusual occurrence, FDA changed all three strains for this year's influenza vaccine. Usually, only one or two strains are updated from year to year. This year's vaccines include the following strains: an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus