About influenza

Influenza, sometimes called the flu, is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that is caused by a virus. Influenza is a respiratory illness.

The number of people who get sick with influenza is different year to year. On average each year, about 12,000 people in Canada have to stay in a hospital because of influenza, and about 3,500 people die from it.

Learn more about influenza.

Who is most at risk?

Everyone is at risk of influenza. The time when people are at greatest risk is called influenza season, which usually starts in late fall and lasts though the winter.

Influenza can make you very sick and lead to other health problems, especially if:

• You have heart or lung conditions, diabetes, a weak immune system, a lot of extra weight, or other health problems.
• You live in a care facility, like a continuing care home.
• You are under age 5 years.
• You are age 65 years or older.
• You are pregnant.
• You are an Indigenous person.

COVID-19, influenza, and colds

Influenza is caused by a different virus than COVID-19, the common cold, and gastrointestinal illness (sometimes called the "stomach flu"). Although the symptoms of these diseases can be similar, there are differences:

• The common cold usually does not include a high fever.
• Gastrointestinal illness does not include a cough, sore throat, or runny nose.
• COVID-19 sometimes involves a loss of smell or taste.
• There is no vaccine for the common cold and gastrointestinal illness.

Symptoms

Symptoms start suddenly and may include:

• a fever and chills
• a sore throat or cough
• a headache
• muscle aches
• not feeling hungry or not wanting to eat (poor appetite)
• feeling tired

Other symptoms may include feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), vomiting (throwing up), or having loose stool (diarrhea). These are more common in young children.

In some cases, influenza can lead to a lung infection (pneumonia) or make other health problems worse. Even healthy, young people can get very sick or die from influenza. Learn more about health problems from influenza.

Treatment and care at home

Most people can treat influenza symptoms at home. Home treatment includes resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking medicine to lower your fever.

• Care instructions for adults with influenza
• Care instructions for teens with influenza
• Care instructions for children with influenza

Some people need to go to the hospital for treatment.

Vaccine

Everyone in Alberta age 6 months and older is encouraged to get the influenza vaccine each year.

The influenza vaccine is offered for free in Alberta every year starting in mid to late October. The best time to get the vaccine is October or November.

There are many types of influenza vaccines. Every year, Alberta Health looks at information about influenza to help them decide which vaccines to offer.

You need to get the vaccine every year because influenza viruses change. A new vaccine is made each year to protect against the influenza viruses most likely to cause illness in that year.

Learn more about the influenza vaccine.

HEALTH PROFESIONALS
Visit Influenza Immunization Information for Health Professionals for resources to implement a safe and effective influenza immunization program.

Prevent the spread

To stop influenza from spreading:

• Get the influenza vaccine every year.
• Wash your hands with warm water and soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often.
• Cover your cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue, not your hand.
• Stay home when you are sick.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding/​chestfeeding

If you are pregnant and get influenza, you have a higher risk of serious health problems and needing treatment in the hospital.

The illness could also cause loss of a baby during pregnancy (miscarriage or stillbirth) or cause a baby to be born too soon (premature birth).

The influenza vaccine is recommended when you are pregnant or breastfeeding/chestfeeding.

Getting the influenza vaccine when you are pregnant has many benefits:

• It protects you and your baby.
• It protects your baby for a short time after birth.
• It lowers the risk of your baby being born too soon, being too small, or having a low birth weight.

Learn more about influenza vaccine, pregnancy, and breastfeeding/chestfeeding.