You know, I don't think I've EVER caught influenza or "the flu", despite never having a vaccine for the virus.
ok... how dangerous is the flu though?
It can be very dangerous. Common symptoms are high fever, runny nose, sore throat and other things that leave you feeling extremely tired.
how many people die from the flu each year?
I'm not sure on exact numbers for recent times, but back in 1918 there was a Spanish influenza pandemic that killed 50-100 million people.
thats awful. im glad we were able to contain it better with vaccines now though. any other facts you can tell me about the flu?
Influenza vaccine
Influenza vaccines, also known as flu shots or flu jabs, are vaccines that protect against infection by influenza viruses. A new version of the vaccine is developed twice a year, as the influenza virus rapidly changes. While their effectiveness varies from year to year, most provide modest to high protection against influenza. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that vaccination against influenza reduces sickness, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. When an immunized worker does catch the flu, they
Influenza
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus. Symptoms can be mild to severe. The most common symptoms include: high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing, sneezing, and feeling tired. These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and most last less than a week. The cough, however, may last for more than two weeks. In children, there may be diarrhea and vomiting, but these are