Seasonal Influenza

What is seasonal flu?
Influenza (“flu”) is a virus that typically affects the nose, throat, and lungs. The illness usually lasts between three and seven days and symptoms include fever, headache, cough, aches and sore throat.

Seasonal flu is a respiratory illness which spreads easily from person to person. Influenza can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to protect against influenza, and is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, every year.

People need to get vaccinated against the flu every year because vaccine protection lessens over time. So, even if they got vaccine last year, they still need it this year. And it is not possible to predict how mild or severe this flu season will be.

Anyone can get sick from the flu. No matter how healthy you are, you can catch the flu. And you may be sick for 2-3 weeks or more, interfering with work, school, other activities and time spent with family and friends.

Even if you get a mild case of the flu, you can still spread it to other people. Like your family, friends and co-workers.

What is the difference between pandemic influenza and seasonal influenza?

Seasonal outbreaks (epidemics) are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that are already in existence among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes or by subtypes that have never circulated (spread) among people or that have not circulated among people for a long time. Past influenza pandemics have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss.

Additional Information for Seasonal Flu

For more information about pandemic influenza, send us an email or phone (619) 692-8499.