The Flu & You

What is the flu?

The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses that spread from person–to–person. The period between becoming infected with the virus and becoming ill is usually 1 to 4 days.

Symptoms of the flu:

• Fever (up to 104 degrees) and sweating/chills
• Headache, muscle aches and/or stiffness
• Shortness of breath, cough

How does the flu spread?

Flu viruses spread by coughing and sneezing respiratory droplets into the air. Flu usually spreads from close person–to–person contact, though touching something with flu virus on it and then touching the mouth, eyes, or nose sometimes infects people. The virus can live for as long as two hours on surfaces like doorknobs, phones, and furniture.

Because symptoms do not develop as soon as one is infected, a person can pass on the flu to someone else before feeling ill or showing any symptoms.