Influenza, commonly known as "the flu" is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu usually spreads through the air from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Unlike the common cold, the flu causes severe illness and can be life threatening.
- Each year over 114,000 people are hospitalized because of the flu.
- Each year over 36,000 people in the U.S. die from complications of the flu.
The Influenza Fact Sheet (2 pages) offers detailed information about the flu in a concise, question and answer format.
What is Pandemic Flu? - Provides a sided-by-side comparision of typical and pandemic flus. |
