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Home > Resources > Toolkits & Topics > Influenza (Flu)
Influenza (Flu)
Overview
The flu, also called influenza, is a respiratory infection caused by viruses. Each year, millions of Americans get sick with the flu. Sometimes it causes mild illness. But it can also be serious or even deadly, especially for people over 65, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses.
The flu is caused by flu viruses that spread from person to person. When someone with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks, they spray tiny droplets. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person may get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
Symptoms of the flu come on suddenly and may include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. This is more common in children.
Sometimes people have trouble figuring out whether they have a cold or the flu. There are differences between them. The symptoms of a cold usually come on more slowly and are less severe than symptoms of the flu. Colds rarely cause a fever or headaches.
Sometimes people say that they have the "flu" when they really have something else. For example, "stomach flu" isn't the flu; it's gastroenteritis. Source: MedlinePlus
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Fact Sheets & Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
WastewaterScan Dashboard - A public database that monitors sewage to track the presence of infectious diseases
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