How Is The Flu Passed From One Person To Another?

Dr. William Schaffner answers the question: 'How Is The Flu Passed On?'

ByABC News
September 25, 2008, 10:04 AM

— -- Question: How is the flu passed from one person to another?

Answer: When we get the influenza virus, we can pass it to others. And we do so in a variety of ways but the most important thing to realize is that we do it when we're in close contact with other people. You see, the virus is in the back of our throats and in our noses and when we breathe out, viruses come out and the next person who's very close to us can breathe the virus in and then they will get infected. Another way to spread it is if we get it on our hands.

And we can do that if I touch myself and get the virus on my hands and then I touch someone else. So the virus is spread through close contact.

Next: Is There A Time Of The Year When I Am Most Likely To Get The Flu, And Can I Get The Flu More Than Once In A Given Year?

Previous: Where Does The Flu Come From, And Why Are We Susceptible To Flu Every Year?

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