UNDERSTANDING INFLUENZA:
How the Flu Spreads
The flu virus spreads very easily, and often passes from children to their classmates,
and then onto family members and the elderly. When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus is transmitted in droplets of mucus
or saliva through the air. Those droplets can land on countertops and doorknobs, where the virus can live for up to 8 hours. You can catch the
flu by either coming into contact with a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, or by breathing in the virus.
According to the CDC, the best way to stop it is to get you and your eligible family members vaccinated. But the following tips can also help prevent the spread of the flu:
Kids are 2-3 times more likely to catch the flu than adults
If we think about it logically, it makes perfect sense. Children don't always cover their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze, so they spread germs very easily. Their immune systems are not as experienced at fighting viruses as those of adults, so there's a good chance they'll catch something when they come into contact with it. And when they catch the flu, they're actually so infectious that they can pass on the virus for 10 days or more.
