02/03/2020
What is influenza — ‘the flu’?
Influenza is more than just a ‘bad cold’. Although some of the symptoms are the same, they are usually a lot more severe. Symptoms of influenza include a cough, headache, fever or chills, body aches and pains, fatigue and generally feeling miserable.
Influenza, commonly called ‘the flu’, can be a serious illness that is sometimes fatal.
Even if you do not end up in the hospital, influenza can keep you in bed for a week or more, preventing you from doing work, sport or just about anything that requires leaving the house.
The flu spreads from person to person. The influenza virus is transferred in droplets of moisture expelled through breathing, coughing and sneezing. The virus is spread when a person touches any droplets which contain the influenza virus and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes before washing their hands.
Influenza can affect anyone, no matter how fit, active and healthy they may be, healthy people can still become seriously ill and even die.
