10 Things You Didn't Know About The Flu

GoodHousekeeping

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1. The term influenza is the Italian word for "influence":  This refers to the cause of the disease; people used to think that the planets, stars, and moon influenced the flu. 
2. Every year, an average of 5%-20% of the US population contracts the virus
3. Hippocrates first reported a flu-like disease in 412 B.C.: The first documented flu pandemic was in 1580 and it affected more than 90% of the population.
4. It's smart to get vaccinated before October: Although January is a big month for the flu, some outbreaks happen as early as October. Since the antibodies in the vaccine take up to two weeks to develop, doctors recommend getting vaccinated early.
5. There have been 4 major flu epidemics in the last century: The Spanish flu, Asian flu, Hong-Kong flu, and the most recent Swine-flu, which caused over 12,000 deaths worldwide. The Spanish Flu caused the most flu-related deaths ever-about 20 million world-wide in 1918.
6. The flu virus can live on surfaces from 2-8 hours: They live the longest on hard surfaces. Hand sanitizer anyone?!
7. There are 3 different flu viruses-Influenza A, B and C: Influenza A is the most severe, affecting both humans and birds-it was the cause of H1N1 and more. Influenza B is only found in humans and mutates at a slower rate. Influenza C affects humans, pigs, and dogs and is less common than the other two types.
8. There are an unknown number of strains: The flu is always mutating; every year there are 3 or 4 strains identified before vaccine development starts. 
9. During the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918, doctors prescribed either shots of whiskey or no alcohol at all: Some doctors recommended drinking half a bottle of wine a day or a glass of port wine after taking a very hot bath. Many people during that time relied on folk remedies, including eating and bathing in onions. In order to prevent the flu, the Colgate company recommended not wearing tight clothes and shoes as well as chewing food carefully. 
10. You can get your flu diagnosis in as little as 15 minutes: A lot of hospitals and doctor's offices are already using Alere i, which is a device capable of diagnosing the flu in just 15 minutes with a nasal swab. Getting a quick flu diagnosis means that treatment can begin in the first 24-48 hours after infection which is when you need it most.