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• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu

• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications

• approximately 36,000 people die from the flu

Understanding the flu and how it is spread can help you and your family stay healthy: Flu viruses spread in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. They usually spread from person to person, though sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you can pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Know the “Key Facts” about influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

Is it a cold or the flu? http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm

Antivirals and You

Good news on the eve of flu season -- four antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir and oseltamivir) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of influenza. However, you will need to begin taking an antiviral drug within 2 days after becoming sick. When used in this manner, these drugs can reduce influenza symptoms and may shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. The drugs also may make you less contagious.

All of these drugs must be prescribed by a doctor and taken for 3-5 consecutive days (5 days for oseltamivir and zanamivir). The 4 antiviral drugs are effective only against influenza viruses. They will not help symptoms associated with the common cold or many other influenza-like illnesses caused by viruses that circulate in the winter.

Know how to attack the flu before it attacks you; learn more about antiviral drugs at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/antiviral/index.htm

10/28/2005