What is Influenza and how is it transmitted?
Influenza is an acute viral infection which spreads from person to person as droplets in the air from sneezing, coughing or touching infected surfaces.
The incubation period is usually around 1–4 days and infected persons may pass the viruses to other people 1 day before and up to 5–7 days after they develop symptoms. The period may be even longer in young children.
For healthy individuals, seasonal influenza is usually self-limiting lasting about a week. Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, fatigue and headache, with or without vomiting and diarrhoea. Whilst most symptoms resolve quickly, the cough is often severe and fatigue can be prolonged.
Influenza Management:
Prevention:
To protect yourself, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) recommends consulting your doctor for the influenza vaccination and to consider the following precautions:
Further information at the CHP website: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/14843.html