Knowing how to differentiate between symptoms of each can be important, especially if you're at high risk for flu's complications. Influenza can lead to pneumonia, hospitalization and even death.
When 39-year-old Charlie Hinderliter got the flu last winter, he ended up in a medically induced coma and spent 58 days hospitalized. Serious, even fatal, complications can hit patients of any age.
An 21st century outbreak could be as nightmarish as the 1918 pandemic, which killed about 40 million. So the Gates Foundation wants to spur the development of a flu vaccine. Don't we already have one?
Beyond annual flu shots, older adults need protection against shingles, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, federal health officials say. But many aren't getting vaccinated.
The flu epidemic has peaked, the CDC said today. Activity declined last week, but the disease is still widespread and dangerous. And it's still not too late to get a flu shot.
Finally getting out from under the flu? Just because you're feeling better doesn't mean you can't get other people sick. You can spread the flu for longer than you might think.
The case of a Chinese woman adds to a growing list of avian flu strains to keep an eye on, including ones that are deadly and contagious. So why are there so many?
Overall, this season's vaccine is about 36 percent effective in blunting or preventing flu, health officials say. That's better than earlier predictions, and good enough to prevent flu in thousands.
Flu drugs recommended for vulnerable people, including young children and the elderly, are getting hard to find in some parts of the country, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.