Flu

If you have the flu, you suddenly feel unwell. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. You can catch the flu repeatedly because there are various types of flu viruses that keep changing. Flu-like symptoms such as coughing, colds, and fever can also be caused by other viruses, like the common cold virus or norovirus (stomach flu). Flu is somewhat different from a common cold, as you often feel more ill with the flu. The flu is contagious: you can transmit it to someone else, making them ill as well. The flu viruses are present in droplets of snot, mucus, phlegm, and saliva. They spread through talking, coughing, and sneezing.

Where does flu occur?

The flu occurs all over the world. In the Netherlands, the flu appears every year, usually during the winter months; this is referred to as seasonal flu. The frequency of flu cases is different every year. The RIVM monitors the development of the flu virus through surveillance.

What are the symptoms?

The flu often begins very suddenly. Within a few hours, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• High fever (38 degrees or more)
• Headache
• Muscle aches and fatigue
• Chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Difficulty breathing

How to prevent the flu?

You can prevent flu infection by applying hygiene measures, such as the following: touch your nose, eyes, and mouth as little as possible. Use tissues. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, ventilate well and regularly clean door handles, taps and handrails.

A flu jab is available, which you can receive even if you do not belong to a high-risk group. High-risk groups, such as the elderly and individuals with low immunity receive an anual invitation from their GP for the flu jab. By receiving the flu jab on time, you are better protected against the flu and reduce the chances of having to stay home sick. If you do catch the flu, it is likely to be less severe, and you will recover more quickly. You can make an appointment for the flu jab at our Travel Clinic.

More information

Want to know more about the flu? Then visit the information page of the RIVM here: Flu | RIVM.