Flu is spread from close contact with persons who are sick with flu or from touching surfaces or objects that have flu virus on them. Infection can occur when flu viruses contact the eyes, mouth, or nose, and through breathing in droplets from a sneeze or cough.

People may be able to spread the virus to others about one day before they show symptoms and up to seven days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to spread the flu to someone else before you even know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

In the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications. Some people, such as older people, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. These health conditions include:

• Asthma
• Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
• Chronic lung disease
• Heart disease
• Blood disorders
• Endocrine disorders (i.e., diabetes)
• Kidney and liver disorders
• Metabolic disorders
• Weakened immune systems due to medication or disease, such as HIV/AIDS
• People younger than 19 years of age receiving long-term aspirin therapy
• People who are morbidly obese

A health care professional may be able to diagnose a flu infection by looking at your symptoms. Sometimes your nose will be swabbed and tested for the influenza virus.

Most people with flu have mild symptoms and do not need medical care or antiviral medication.  Fever-reducing medicine, cough drops for a sore throat or cough, water, and plenty of rest are typically what people with mild symptoms are prescribed.

However,  if you have symptoms of flu and are at an increased risk for complications or are very sick, a healthcare provider can  prescribe antiviral medication if diagnosed  at the beginning of illness onset.  Antiviral therapies include, oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, or baloxavir marboxil.

Treating Influenza (Flu)