General Information
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. There are two main types or strains of the flu virus; types A and B. Flu A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year.
Flu FAQs
What is seasonal flu?
Seasonal flu refers to the flu viruses that circulate during the winter months each year and for which immunizations are created to protect people each season.
How is the flu spread?
Flu viruses mainly spread from person to person by droplets. This happens when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are sent through the air and land on the mouth, nose, or eyes of people nearby. Flu viruses may also spread when a person touches droplets on an object or surface and then touches their mouth, nose, or eyes before washing their hands.
Who gets the flu?
Every year in the United States, part of the population becomes sick with the flu. Children younger than 18 are more likely to become sick with the flu than other age groups.
When and for how long is a person able to spread influenza?
People are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days and may become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness. However, some infants, and people with weakened immune systems, can continue to spread the virus even after they stop showing symptoms, for as long as 4 weeksMost healthy adults may be able to spread the flu others beginning one day before they feel ill and up to five days after becoming sick. Children and immunocompromised people may pass the virus for longer than ten days.
Some people can be infected with flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, they can still spread influenza to others when they sneeze or cough.
How soon after you are exposed to the flu do symptoms appear?
It can take one to four days (average two days) from when a person is exposed to flu virus for symptoms to develop. Flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly, while cold symptoms usually start slowly.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
People infected with the flu usually have mild symptoms and are able to manage their symptoms on their own.
The flu may include these symptoms:
- Fever (usually ≥101°F)
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are more common in children than adults
- Dry cough
- Muscle aches/body aches
- Weakness
In rare cases, individuals may develop serious complications with severe symptoms. Emergency symptoms may include:
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Ongoing dizziness
- Seizures
- Worsening of existing medical conditions
- Severe weakness or muscle pain
In children, bluish color of the skin and dehydration are considered emergency symptoms.
If you experience emergency symptoms of the flu, seek medical care right away.
Some people, including those over 65 or under five years of age, and people with certain conditions are at high risk for serious complications from the flu and should talk to a healthcare provider right away if experiencing symptoms. Taking antiviral medicine to treat the flu may shorten the length of your illness and help prevent more-serious problems.
What can be done to prevent the spread of the flu?
- Get immunized every year! It is the single best way to prevent the flu. It is recommended that all people six months of age or older get a flu immunization.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick. Also, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands after disposing of used tissues. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve, not your hands.
- Wash your hands. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or sanitizers may be used.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are frequently spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Use antiviral drugs as prescribed by your healthcare provider to treat the flu.
Immunization
The Whitman County Public Health is collaborating with SID’s Pharmacy to offer no-cost influenza (flu) immunizations, both high-dose and regular dose, for residents and staff at the following organizations:
- K-12 Schools
- Childcare Facilities
- Non-profit Community Organizations
- Governmental Agencies
If you are interested in signing up for an on-site immunization clinic, send your request to: CommunityHealth@WhitmanCounty.net.
Testing
Where Can I Get tested for RSV?
While your doctor may test you for flu, not everyone who goes to the doctor with flu-like symptoms will be tested. After evaluating you, your doctor may choose to diagnose you with flu without the need for testing based on your symptoms and his or her own clinical judgement.
What kinds of Flu Tests Are There?
A number of tests are available to detect flu viruses in respiratory specimens. The most common are called “rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs).” RIDTs work by detecting the parts of the virus (antigens) that stimulate an immune response. These tests can provide results within approximately 10-15 minutes but may not be as accurate as other flu tests. Therefore, you could still have flu, even though your rapid test result is negative. Other flu tests called “rapid molecular assays” detect genetic material of the flu virus. Rapid molecular assays produce results in 15-20 minutes and are more accurate than RIDTs.
In addition to RIDTs and rapid molecular assays, there are several more accurate flu tests available that must be performed in specialized laboratories, such as hospital and public health laboratories. These tests include reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), viral culture, and immunofluorescence assays. All of these tests require that a health care provider swipe the inside of your nose or the back of your throat with a swab and then send the swab for testing. Results may take one to several hours.
Treatment
Most people with flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care.
If, however, you have symptoms of flu and are at increased risk for complications, are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider. CDC recommends early treatment for people who have flu or suspected flu who are at higher risk of serious flu complications, such as people with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.
Antiviral drugs can help treat flu illness:
- Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Flu antivirals are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, intravenous solution, or an inhaled powder) and are not available over the counter.
- Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They might also prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia, when treatment is started early.
Flu fact sheet
Most pharmacies in your local area offer flu vaccine. You can also talk with your primary care provider or local health department.
