Flu isn’t just a heavy cold. Flu occurs every year, usually in the winter, which is why it’s sometimes called seasonal flu. It’s a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly. Colds are much less serious and usually start gradually with a stuffy or runny nose and a sore throat. A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold.
The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness. Healthy individuals usually recover within 2 to 7 days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death.
Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu virus circulating. Please use the following links for more information on the vaccine.
The flu vaccination: who should have it and why (winter 2023 to 2024) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
