The flu (or common flu) is a viral infection that is spread from person to person in secretions of the nose and lungs, for example when sneezing. Medically it is referred to as influenza. Flu is a respiratory infection, that is, an infection that develops primarily in the lungs.
Respiratory infections caused by other viruses often are called flu, but this is incorrect. Influenza usually causes higher fever, more malaise, and severe body aches. Although other viruses may cause these symptoms, they do so less commonly.
The flu is a common illness. Every year in the United States, on average:
* 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu,
* more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and
* about 36,000 people die from the flu
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