“Just a little flu”? That might sound harmless. We all know someone who spends a few days under a blanket in winter with a fever, muscle aches and a nasty cough. But influenza, the virus that causes the flu, is more than just an annoying winter illness.
Worldwide, an estimated one billion people are affected by seasonal influenza every year. Of these, around 3 to 5 million people develop a severe form of the disease, and an estimated 290,000 to 650,000 people die each year from respiratory complications of influenza.
So, what exactly is influenza?
Influenza is a contagious viral infection of the respiratory system. The best-known types that affect humans are influenza A and B, which are responsible for seasonal flu outbreaks each year.
The virus can easily spread from person to person, for example when someone coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes. It can also be transmitted through contaminated hands.
After infection, symptoms usually develop within 1 to 4 days. Typical symptoms include a sudden fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a strong feeling of being unwell. Most people recover within about a week, although the cough can last longer.
Who is at greater risk from influenza?
Although most people recover without serious problems, influenza can lead to severe illness, hospitalization or even death in some people.
Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic conditions or weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of complications. Healthcare workers are also at increased risk because they are more frequently exposed to the virus.
Influenza can also worsen existing health conditions and, in severe cases, lead to complications such as pneumonia or sepsis.
Can you protect yourself?
Fortunately, yes. Vaccination is the most important way to prevent influenza and, in particular, severe illness.
Because influenza viruses are constantly changing, the composition of the flu vaccine is regularly updated. The WHO makes recommendations twice a year for the vaccines to be used in the upcoming influenza season.
Simple measures can also help reduce the spread of the virus: wash your hands regularly, ventilate indoor spaces well, avoid crowded and poorly ventilated places where possible, and stay home when you are sick.
And of course, cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow—not casually in the direction of the person sitting next to you. 😉
So, the next time someone says, “It’s just the flu,” you’ll know: it’s not quite that simple. Influenza is common, but precisely because we know it so well, it can be easy to underestimate.