Seasonal Flu

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about seasonal flu.

What is the flu?

The flu is a respiratory illness that is caused by influenza viruses. It is different than many other viral respiratory infections, including the common cold, because it can cause serious illness and life-threatening complications in many cases.

If I get a seasonal flu vaccine, will I be protected from avian (bird) flu?

No, but you should still get one every year to increase your chances of staying healthy.

Are there any side effects?

Yes, but they are typically minor. The most common side effect is soreness, redness or swelling where the shot is given. Some people may also have a fever or muscle soreness. If these side effects occur, they start shortly after the shot and last one to two days.

What if I experience a severe reaction to flu vaccine?

The chance that you will have a severe reaction is very small. However, call your doctor immediately if you experience high fever, shortness of breath, dizziness, hives or a rapid heartbeat. 

Can I get the flu even if I have been vaccinated?

Yes. The effectiveness of flu vaccine depends on two things: your general health and age, and the similarity between the virus strains in the vaccine and those currently circulating.

How effective is the flu vaccine?

More often than not, the influenza vaccine will prevent serious illness stemming from the influenza virus. However, it will not prevent comparable illnesses that are brought on by other viruses.

Do some flu vaccines contain mercury?

Some inactivated influenza vaccine contains a preservative called thimerosal, which contains mercury. However, in 2004, the Institute of Medicine made the conclusion that there is no evidence that thimerosal is related to developmental problems in children. If you are still concerned, ask your doctor about a thimerosal-free version.

If I have ever had a flu shot, do I need to get one this year?

Yes. Influenza viruses are always changing, and a new influenza vaccine is developed each year.

Most people need a single flu shot each year. However, children younger than nine years of age who are getting their first flu shot should get two doses at least one month apart.

When should I get vaccinated?

The best time to get a flu shot is before flu season starts in October or November, but it still helps to get a shot anytime during the flu season. It takes about two weeks to develop protection against infection, and protection can last for up to a year.

Can I get the flu from a flu shot?

No. The viruses are killed viruses and cannot cause influenza. These viruses cause your immune system to make antibodies, so that if you are exposed to live flu viruses, your immune system will immediately start protecting you.

Should everyone get a flu shot?

No. Some people should ask a doctor before being vaccinated. They include those who:

• have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
• have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination before
• have previously developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the first six weeks after a flu shot
• are less than six months old
• have a moderate or severe illness with a fever

If you fall into one of the categories below or live with or care for someone who does, you are at a higher risk for developing serious complications and should make it a priority to get a flu shot:

• people aged 65 years and older, with and without chronic health conditions
• people who live in long-term care facilities
• people aged 2-64 years with chronic health problems
• people with weakened immune systems
• children aged 6-59 months
• household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged 6-59     months
• women who are currently pregnant
• healthcare personnel who directly care for patients

How does a flu shot work?

Both types of flu vaccines-the flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine-work the same way: they cause antibodies to develop in the body, and the antibodies then provide protection against influenza virus infection.

Why should people get vaccinated?

Influenza is a serious illness, and anyone can get it. A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of getting the flu.

If I have the flu, how can I avoid spreading it to other people?

If you have the flu, stay home from work, school and other public places and cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

How can I avoid getting the flu?

Washing your hands frequently, staying away from people who are sick and not touching items that someone with the flu may have touched are all good ways to protect yourself from the flu. Getting a flu shot every year is one of the best ways to avoid getting the flu.

If someone gets the flu, how long are they contagious?

Most healthy adults may be able to infect others from one day before becoming sick until five days after they first experience symptoms. That means that you can spread the flu not only while you are sick, but also before you know you are sick.

If I am exposed to the flu virus, how long will it take me to get sick?

If you are exposed to the flu virus, you will probably start to experience symptoms after one to four days.

If a person has the flu and touches an object, such as a doorknob, how long will the virus stay on the object?

Human influenza viruses can typically survive on inanimate surfaces for two to eight hours.

Can herbal, homeopathic or other folk remedies protect me from the flu? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence to support that any herbal, homeopathic or other folk remedies can offer protection against influenza.

Are antibiotics effective against the flu?

Influenza is caused by a virus, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics.

How is the flu treated?

Treatment usually focuses on easing symptoms. Antiviral drugs, such as Relenza and Tamiflu, can limit the intensity and/or duration of the symptoms. However, these medications must be given within 36 to 48 hours of being exposed to the virus in order to be effective. If you develop a high fever with a dry cough, contact your doctor about these medications. For more information, see Questions and Answers: Influenza Antiviral Medications(CDC).

When is flu season?

Flu activity in the United States is typically highest between late February and early March. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors circulating flu viruses and disease activity and provides influenza reports each week from October through May. See the Weekly U.S. Influenza Summary Update.

What makes the flu different from a cold?

The flu shares some symptoms with the common cold, including runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. However, if you are an adult and have a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or more, you may have the flu. If so, your fever may last anywhere from one day to a week and in some cases may climb as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the flu typically makes you feel much worse than a cold. Even after you're better, you may still feel tired.

How does the flu spread?

The flu is spread from person to person when someone who already has the flu sneezes or coughs. You can also catch the flu by touching an object, such as a doorknob, that has influenza germs on it and then touching your own eyes, nose or mouth. Even if you don't feel sick yet, you may be able to infect others with the flu virus.

What symptoms are associated with the flu?

If you have the flu, you may have a fever, chills, dry cough, headache, fatigue, sore muscles and sore throat. Flu symptoms can last anywhere from two to seven days. In addition, children can sometimes experience vomiting and nausea. Other people, particularly those who are elderly, may also develop a secondary bacterial infection, such as pneumonia.

Pandemic Flu

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about pandemic flu.

What is pandemic flu?

Pandemic flu happens when a new flu virus is introduced for which the population has little to no immunity. This allows the disease to spread easily and quickly and lead to serious illness. A flu pandemic can affect people across the nation and around the world within very little time.

Will we have a pandemic in the near future?

It is widely believed that another flu pandemic may happen soon. Historically, there have been three different flu pandemics in the past century, in 1918-19, 1957-58 and 1968-69. It is impossible to predict the timing and seriousness of the next pandemic.

For a pandemic to occur, an illness must spread easily from person to person and with a high rate of infection. As for current concerns about the avian flu virus (H5N1), or bird flu, those are based on the thought that the virus will become something it is not currently-a disease that can be passed easily from person to person.

Will bird flu (H5N1) cause the next pandemic?

Right now, H5N1 is still a bird disease. There have been very few cases observed in humans, and most of those came as a result of close contact with poultry that was infected. On the other hand, as H5N1 mutates, it could infect humans and be passed from person to person, which could then cause the next pandemic. That is precisely why we must take this threat very seriously and make sure we are prepared should it occur.

What symptoms does a person with bird flu have?

The small number of people who have contracted the current bird flu virus have generally experienced symptoms very much like those that come with seasonal flu: fever, sore throat, cough and sore muscles. However, they tend to be more severe than with seasonal flu. H5N1 attacks the lungs more forcefully, which can lead to life-threatening complications, including respiratory failure, multi-organ failure and pneumonia.

Is there a cure for bird flu?

There is no known cure for the flu in birds or people. However, antiviral drugs and our bodies' immune systems may help ease symptoms or preventing the spread of the disease.

What is Tamiflu?

Tamiflu is an antiviral drug meant to ease the symptoms of an ongoing case of the flu. It only works if people take it within 48 hours of the first sign of symptoms.

Should I buy Tamiflu?

Tamiflu is not a vaccine and thus cannot prevent the flu, so it is not logical or necessary for you to buy it now for use in the future.

If a pandemic occurs, will there be a vaccine?

It would take at least six months after a pandemic begins to make a vaccine available on a large scale. This estimate is based on current vaccine production capacity. However, the federal government is working hard to further the technology needed to develop vaccines and increase production capacity.

If I get a flu shot every year, will that protect me from a pandemic?

An annual flu shot is only effective for a year and does not protect you from bird flu. However, it is still very important for most people to get a flu shot annually, since it can help to protect you from developing a serious secondary complication from the flu.

How can I protect myself from bird flu?

If the bird flu were to change into a form that can be passed between humans, the same rules would apply here as with all respiratory illnesses, such as seasonal flu and the common cold. Be sure to always practice good hand hygiene: wash your hands often and well. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and if you are sick, stay home to protect others.

Could I catch bird flu from a wild bird?

State and federal wildlife agencies have no cases on record of wild birds directly passing the H5N1 virus to humans. Currently, the only recorded occurrences of humans catching H5N1 are from close contact with infected poultry. However, it is not known for sure whether humans can contract bird flu from wild birds.

Could I catch bird flu by eating poultry?

As long as poultry is handled and cooked properly, you are not at risk by eating poultry. It is also very unlikely that infected poultry could enter the food industry in the U.S., since the U.S. does not import raw poultry products from countries known to have bird flu. Always cook poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, as this kills the bird flu virus and other germs. Always wash your hands and other surfaces before and after preparing food, and never use the same utensils to handle raw meat and other foods.

Could my pets get bird flu?

Animals are not usually at risk of contracting influenza type-A infections, but some domestic cats in Europe and non-domestic cats, such as tigers and leopards, in zoos have become infected after eating raw infected meat. There is no evidence to show that humans can contract the disease from pets.

If you own pets, remember that it is very unlikely that they would contract H5N1 from a wild bird, and even more unlikely that the virus would spread from your pets to you. You should never abandon cats, dogs or other pets because you are worried about bird flu.

To be safe, limit your interactions with wild animals: keep domestic cats indoors, walk your dogs on a leash and prevent them from eating dead wild birds. If you think your ill pet appears to have a respiratory illness and may have come in contact with a sick or dead bird, take it to a veterinarian.

What animals can get bird flu?

Currently, we know that humans, birds, ferrets, tigers, leopards and domestic cats can be infected with bird flu. However, flu viruses are always evolving, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is continuously working to monitor the situation and provide additional information if necessary.

I live in a rural area and have a small flock of chickens. Is it safe to keep them?

Yes. At this time, you have no reason to worry. However, you should always practice good habits by controlling access to your property, disinfecting your shoes, clothes and hands and reporting sick, dead or suspicious birds.

If I hunt, should I be concerned about bird flu?

There is no reason to believe at this time that wild birds hunted in the U.S. are infected with bird flu. However, you should always practice good hand hygiene habits when cleaning or touching any wild game. Wear gloves, and disinfect your hands afterwards using hand sanitizer or soap and water.