What we commonly call the flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to checking out of the labor force altogether.
The CDC reports that, “Every year in the United States, on average:
· 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
· more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
· about 36,000 people die from flu.
Some people, such as older people (hey, watch how you use that term), young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Symptoms of flu include:
· fever (usually high)
· headache
· extreme tiredness
· dry cough
· sore throat
· runny or stuffy nose
· muscle aches
· Stomach symptoms, more common in children than adults.
Flu viruses spread in droplets, mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Basically the virus needs to pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth.
In addition to being in striking distance from that sneezing and coughing coworker, if you’ve touched a contaminated surface like a telephone or a door knob the viruses can pass from your hands to your nose or mouth.
Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
If you would like to know more about this flu season FluFACTS.com has a Flu Tracker to know when the flu is in your area, and the severity related to the nation.
We have a little over a month more to go of this flu season, so here is hoping that you will be among the CDC’s 80% that won’t catch it this time around.