General Information
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 FAQs
What is flu season?
Flu season generally starts during fall and peaks in the winter, but timing and severity of flu season can vary from year to year.
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?
Most 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 that require immediate medical attention.
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.
What can be done to prevent the spread of the flu?
1. Practice good hand, coughing, and sneezing hygiene.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces in public areas. When soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol may be used.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues properly and wash your hands immediately afterward.
2. Stay home when sick.
- Return to normal activities when your symptoms are better overall and you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine.
3. Get immunized every year!
- It is recommended that all people six months of age or older get a flu immunization in the fall. View what may be recommended specifically for you and where to get a flu immunization below.
Immunization Options
After about two weeks, flu immunizations cause antibodies to develop in the body that help destroy flu viruses you care exposed to. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the flu viruses that research suggests will be most common during the upcoming season.
For 2024-2025, all flu vaccines are "trivalent", which means they can protect against three different flu viruses.
People Aged 6 Months and Older
If you child has never received the flu immunization in their life and is under 9 years of age, they may need two doses of the flu immunization that first year.
Flu Shot
Brand names are Fluzone, Fluarix, and FluLaval.
All individuals 6 months and older are eligible.
Flu Nasal Mist
Brand name is FluMist.
Only for use in people aged 2 through 49 years. It is not recommended for use in pregnant people, immunocompromised people, or people with certain medical conditions.
People Aged 65 Years or Older
Both options try to create a stronger immune response, one by adding more antigens and the other by adding an adjuvant.
High-Dose Flu Shot
Brand name is called Fluzone High-Dose.
High-Dose contains more antigens than the regular flu immunization to help create a stronger immune response.
Adjuvanted Flu Shot
Brand name is Fluad.
Fluad contains an adjuvant, called MF59, that helps create a stronger immune response, while using the fewer antigens than the High-Dose.
MF59 is an oil-in-water emulsion of squalene oil. Squalene, a naturally occurring substance found in humans, animals, and plants.
Where Can I Get a Flu Immunization?
View the Respiratory Illness Community Immunization Clinic Calendar to find Whitman County clinics that offer Flu immunizations. You can also talk with your primary care provider to see if you can get immunized at your next doctor's office visit.
Whitman County Community Clinic
Fall 2024, WCPH will for the third year in a row be partnering with SID's Pharmacy to offer no-cost, onsite Respiratory Illness Immunization Clinics to every K-12 school in Whitman County.
*Check back August 2024 to see a list of participating schools.*
If you are a school and wish to sign up for us to come out, email us at CommunityClinic@whitmancounty.gov
Treatment
Most people with flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs.
Take steps to relieve mild symptoms at home:
- Manage symptoms.
- Fever and Aches: Use over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Follow the dosage instructions on the label and consult with a healthcare provider if you have concerns.
- Sore Throat and Cough: Soothe a sore throat with warm saltwater gargles, drinking honey and lemon in warm water, or cough drops can also provide relief.
- Ease congestion: steam inhalation, saline nasal spray, and a humidifier may help.
- Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated
However, the flu can cause severe illness in some people.
Young children, older adults, and individuals with chronic health conditions are at increased risk of severe flu.
These individuals may seek early treatment with antivirals from their doctor.
- Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Flu antivirals are prescription medicines 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 complications when treatment is started early.
Don’t Treat The Flu With Antibiotics
When you have flu, antibiotics will not help you feel better. Antibiotics don’t treat the flu virus, and their side effects could cause more harm than benefits.
More information is available at Antibiotic Do’s & Don’ts | Antibiotic Use | CDC.
Flu Fact Sheet
