Influenza (Flu)

What is Influenza?

Influenza is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family. It is commonly known as the flu or the grippe. This disease in most common in October and May. It lasts from three to five days and can be followed by fatigue for two or three weeks.

It is characterised by a runny nose, sore throat, headache, fever and aching muscles and joints. The flu is very easily spread from one person to other through infected droplets coming from infected person's coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread through direct contact with infected people.

Influenza is an illness, generally caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold , influenza infection are the most serious one.