Influenza viruses are spread when a person who has influenza coughs, sneezes, or speaks, releasing viruses into the air and other people inhale the viruses. When these viruses enter the nose, throat, or lungs of a person, they begin to multiply, causing disease. The viruses can also be spread when a person touches a surface with flu viruses on it (for example, a door handle) and then touches his or her nose or mouth.

A person who has the flu can spread viruses - that means they are contagious. Adults may be contagious from 1 day before feeling sick to up to 7 days after getting sick. Children can be contagious for longer than 7 days.

Image Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Vaccination: The single best way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated in October or November every year. If, however, vaccine is unavailable, there are other ways to protect against flu (see Other Habits for Good Health, below).
• Antiviral Medications: Four antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir, and oseltamivir) can be used to prevent influenza. All of these medications are prescription drugs, and a doctor must be consulted before using them.

Other Habits for Good Health: These steps can help prevent influenza and other illnesses:

• Avoid close contact
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
• Cover your mouth and nose
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then put your used tissue in a wastebasket.  It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
  • If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your  hands.
  • Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Clean your hands (here's how)
  • Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
  • Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.
  • Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers in your bag and car, when soap and water is not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick
  • If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. 
• Practice healthy habits
  • Get regular exercise, enough rest, and eat healthy balanced meals.

More Information

• Smoking and Influenza - Some studies show that smokers are more likely to get the flu, and there is a higher mortality rate from the flu among smokers than among nonsmokers.
• Protecting Against the Flu: Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old - Because infants cannot get vaccine or antiviral drugs but are at higher risk for serious flu complications, protecting them from flu is especially important.
• Cover your Cough  - Flyers available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Chinese, Hmong, and Khmer