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Influenza, Influenza, or "flu," is a caused by a virus infecting the respiratory system (nose, throat, bronchial tubes, lungs). Flu symptoms are usually more severe than those of the common cold and are more likely to affect other parts of your body. Flu also tends to come on suddenly, while colds can take a while to develop. Flu is very contagious, spreading easily from one person to the next. Most people with healthy immune systems will get over the flu in a week or two, but young children, senior adults, and people with chronic illnesses are more likely to develop complications such as pneumonia. About 36,000 people die of flu each year in the United States.There are three types of flu viruses: A, B, and C. Type A viruses are the ones responsible for periodic pandemics (worldwide epidemics, such as the one in 1918 that killed as many as 50 million people worldwide). The avian or bird flu is a type A flu virus.The best way to protect yourself from the flu is to get an annual vaccine (flu shot).

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