by Carly Evans

Created on: February 12, 2007   Last Updated: May 13, 2007

Every year, the winter months bring the flu virus to a peak. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, according to cdc.gov.
The flu can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Every year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from the flu, according to cdc.gov.

Typical influenza disease is characterized by abrupt onset of fever, aching muscles, sore throat, and non-productive cough. Additional symptoms may include runny nose, headache, a burning sensation in the chest, and eye pain and sensitivity to light. Typical influenza disease does not occur in every infected person. Someone who has been previously exposed to similar virus strains (through natural infection or vaccination) is less likely to develop serious clinical illness.
The flu spreads from person to person contact through coughing and sneezing. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before flu symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick.
Flu vaccinations help to protect against the flu virus. The two types of available vaccines are the flu shot and a nasal spray form vaccination.
The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine that contains killed virus cells. It is the most common method, and is approved for people six months of age and older. This vaccination can be given to both healthy and chronically ill people.
The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains live, weakened flu viruses. This is approved for use in healthy people aged five to 49 who are not pregnat.
The flu vaccine is given once a year because immunity decreases after a year and because each year's vaccine is formulated to prevent only that year's anticipated flu viruses, according to vaccineinformation.org.
October and November are noted as the best times to get vaccinated against the flu to ensure that the person is protected by the time flu season peaks, usually from December to May, according to cdc.gov.
People who are high at risk for contracting the flu virus are urged to get vaccinated. These include children under five years old, pregnant women, people aged 50 or older, people with any chronic medical condition and people living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, according to cdc.gov.
There are some people who, because of certain factors, should not get vaccinated against the flu. These include people with a severe allergy to eggs, people who have had a severe reaction to

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