Influenza

Influenza is a contagious, respiratory disease that can be prevented by getting a flu shot every year and the practice of good personal hygiene and cough etiquette. The flu is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory track (nose, throat, and lungs) but is different from a cold. Influenza symptoms come quickly in the form of fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and body aches.  These symptoms can be severe and incapacitating for a number of days. The best way to avoid influenza is to practice good respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and get a flu shot every year.

Each year in the United States 36,000 people die from complications related to the flu.  In Memphis and Shelby County during the 2003-04 flu season, October - March, there were a total of 6 flu deaths reported.  Since that time there have not been any flu related deaths, however each year many citizens die of pneumonia. From January - December 2005, a total of 627 individuals died of pneumonia.