What's Your FLU IQ?

1. You can spread the flu to others before you have symptoms. 

True

False

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 may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Explanation

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 may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

2. The flu is not a serious illness. 

True

False

Flu is a serious contagious disease. Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and 36,000 people die from flu.

Explanation

Flu is a serious contagious disease. Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and 36,000 people die from flu.

3. The flu is typically spread through coughs and/or sneezes. 

True

False

Flu virus is mainly spread through droplets from coughs and sneezes.

Explanation

Flu virus is mainly spread through droplets from coughs and sneezes.

4. The "stomach flu" and influenza are the same thing. 

True

False

The flu is a respiratory (lung) disease, not a stomach or intestinal disease. The main symptoms of the flu are fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.

Explanation

The flu is a respiratory (lung) disease, not a stomach or intestinal disease. The main symptoms of the flu are fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.

5. Flu viruses change constantly which requires a new flu vaccine to be produced each year. 

True

False

The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on worldwide monitoring of influenza viruses.

Explanation

The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on worldwide monitoring of influenza viruses.

6. The flu vaccine is available as a shot or a nasal spray. 

True

False

Flu vaccine is also available as a nasal spray (brand name FluMist®). The nasal spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. *"Healthy" indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.

Explanation

Flu vaccine is also available as a nasal spray (brand name FluMist®). The nasal spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. *"Healthy" indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.

7. Getting a flu vaccine in December or later is not too late. 

True

False

CDC recommends that people get vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available and that vaccination continue into December, January and beyond. Influenza activity usually peaks in February most years, but disease can occur as late as May.

Explanation

CDC recommends that people get vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available and that vaccination continue into December, January and beyond. Influenza activity usually peaks in February most years, but disease can occur as late as May.

8. A flu vaccine can't give you the flu. 

True

False

The flu vaccine cannot cause flu illness. The viruses in the vaccine are either killed (flu shot) or weakened (nasal spray vaccine), which means they cannot cause infection.

Explanation

The flu vaccine cannot cause flu illness. The viruses in the vaccine are either killed (flu shot) or weakened (nasal spray vaccine), which means they cannot cause infection.

9. The flu vaccine protects against three strains of flu. 

True

False

While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season.

Explanation

While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season.

10. Washing your hands is the best thing you can do to protect against the flu. 

True

False

CDC recommends a flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. However, preventitive actions like covering your cough and washing your hands often are important everyday steps that can help stop the spread of germs.

Explanation

CDC recommends a flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. However, preventitive actions like covering your cough and washing your hands often are important everyday steps that can help stop the spread of germs.

What's Your Flu IQ?