Buzz
While the seasonal flu is inevitable, getting your yearly flu shot significantly reduces the risk of experiencing its uncomfortable symptoms. Here’s more you need to know about this persistent virus.
1. The flu vaccine cannot cause the flu.
The vaccines contain an inactivated flu virus, which cannot infect you. There’s also a nasal spray vaccine with a live virus, but it’s engineered to target and neutralize the part of the virus responsible for illness.
2. The flu is treatable.
Within 48 hours of symptom onset, a doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to help. While it won’t eliminate the virus completely, it can shorten the time you spend bedridden, binge-watching game shows and lamenting your existence.
3. The 1918-1920 flu outbreak remains the most infamous influenza pandemic.
The flu ward at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, during World War I. | Heritage Images/GettyImagesThe Spanish Flu claimed between 40 million and 100 million lives worldwide at the end of World War I. It reached Level 5, the highest on the Pandemic Severity Scale, with mortality rates estimated at up to 20 percent. Notable survivors include Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Walt Disney, Mary Pickford, General John J. Pershing, and Woodrow Wilson.
5. Influenza can still be fatal.
In the U.S., the flu season leads to approximately 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations annually. Adding to the burden, the seasonal flu costs Americans a staggering $10 billion each year.
6. British students often catch the “freshers flu.”
While Americans deal with the “freshman 15,” British students face the “freshers flu.” Nearly 90 percent of students fall ill during their initial weeks at university. Whether it’s truly the flu or just a cold, the term has a catchy appeal.
7. Those claiming to have the “stomach flu” likely don’t.
The term “stomach flu” emerged because it mimics the unpleasant symptoms of actual influenza. However, if you’re only experiencing stomach discomfort without fever or body aches, it’s likely a gastrointestinal virus.
8. The idea of “starving a fever” is a myth.
A woman dons a “flu mask” in the early 20th century. | Hulton Deutsch/GettyImagesThe old adage “feed a cold, starve a fever” holds little truth. Fever is a key symptom of the flu, and staying hydrated is crucial. However, there’s no need to reduce your food intake. Eating nutritious meals can actually aid your body in fighting the virus.
9. Influenza has existed for centuries.
The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates documented an illness with symptoms strikingly similar to those of the modern flu.
10. The most recent flu pandemic occurred in 2009.
The (H1N1)pdm09 flu virus appeared in April 2009. Due to its unique mutation, few individuals under 60 had immunity. The CDC estimates that from April 2009 to April 2010, there were approximately 61 million cases, 274,000 hospitalizations, and over 12,000 deaths in the U.S. alone.
