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There are three types of influenza virus including influenza virus A, influenza virus B, and influenza virus C.
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Influenza virus A (H1N1) was the type responsible for the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 (between 50 and 100 million people died) and the Swine Flu pandemic in 2009 (as many as 579,000 people died).
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Influenza virus A (H2N2) was responsible for the Asian Flu pandemic in 1957 (between one and four million died).
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Influenza virus A (H3N2) was responsible for the Hong Kong Flu pandemic in 1968 (one million people died).
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Influenza virus A (H5N1) was responsible for the Bird Flu outbreak in 2004.
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Influenza virus B is less common than type A, as it cannot cross species and does not result in pandemics.
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Influenza virus C is not as common as type A, but can result in local epidemics.
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The World Health Organization recommends that individuals at high risk be vaccinated with the influenza vaccine. This includes health care workers, those with chronic illnesses, the elderly, children, and those with compromised immune systems.
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People should avoid touching their eyes, mouth, or nose during flu season as this is a common method of infection. It occurs when a person touches something that an infected person has touched or sneezed on, and then they touch their nose, mouth, or eyes and contract the virus.
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Soap appears to deactivate the flu virus so it is a good idea to wash hands frequently, especially during flu season.
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An individual with the flu should get lots of rest. It is important to drink a lot of fluids as well.
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Antibiotics won't help because the flu is a virus. In some cases influenza results in a bacterial infection such as pneumonia, which would require antibiotics.
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Children should not be given aspirin if they have the flu (especially a fever) as this can result in Reyes syndrome, which is rare but potentially fatal.
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Influenza season occurs in the winter. In the Northern and Southern hemispheres flu season (and winter) occurs at different times of the year.
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Some people have speculated that the decreased vitamin D levels in the winter months might make a person more susceptible to the flu.
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The flu vaccine can be administered with a needle or it can be administered into the nose with a nasal spray.
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