General Information
Influenza (or flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The flu virus is spread from person-to-person in respiratory droplets caused by sneezing or coughing. People can also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. You can infect others even before flu symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick, as well as while you are sick.
To help prevent the spread of flu, follow precautions:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve and not your hands.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Stay home if you have a cough or fever.
- See your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you have a cough or fever and follow their instructions as prescribed to get plenty of rest.
Seasonal Influenza
Seasonal influenza is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms include headache, chills, fever, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, extreme fatigue and muscle aches.
Everyone is at risk for getting the flu, but for some people such as older adults (over age 65), pregnant women, young children, individuals living in nursing homes or healthcare workers, the flu can cause serious illness.
The best protection for avoiding the flu is to get a flu shot every year before the flu season begins because the seasonal flu virus changes each year. Once you get vaccinated, the flu vaccine begins to protect you after two weeks.
For more information on influenza, visit the Kentucky Department for Public Health's Influenza Web site.
Pandemic Influenza
Pandemic influenza is a worldwide occurrence of a new type of flu that people have little or no immunity to. The disease spreads easily from person-to-person across the world and causes serious illness.
A flu pandemic could cause health and medical services to be overloaded, disrupt daily life and limit the amount of services available. Gatherings of people (schools, businesses and sporting events) might be restricted to control the spread of the disease and transportation could be limited.
For more information on Kentucky's pandemic influenza preparedness efforts, click here.