The flu is a common illness that can cause a series of symptoms, including fever,4 muscle ache,5 fatigue,4 sore throat6 and congestion.4 The flu virus tends to strike the general population beginning in November or December, and typically lasts through March.7 Each year, between 10 and 20 percent of the Unites States population is infected with the virus.7 However, the influenza season can be more severe when a major circulating strain of influenza does not match any of the strains selected for the vaccine formulations – this is called a vaccine mismatch. In fact, vaccine mismatch has occurred to varying degrees in four of the last eight influenza seasons, most recently during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 influenza seasons.
People infected with the flu typically suffer from the illness for approximately 7 to 10 days, with 5 to 6 days of limited activity and about 3 days of bed rest.8, 9 Nationwide, the flu and its complications lead to more than 200,000 hospital stays per year and an average of 36,000 deaths (primarily in the elderly).7
Children have the highest chance of getting sick from the flu, and often spread the germs throughout their communities. In fact, during bad flu seasons, about 30 percent of school-aged children get sick.12 Even though vaccinations help cut down on flu-related missed school days by 47 to 56 percent, children are rarely vaccinated against the illness.13 Consequently, children sick with the flu miss about 38 million school days every year.14 (Click here to download an information sheet about the impact influenza may have on children.)
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