To understand the flu's incubation period, it's first a good idea to go over the virus itself. Influenza, aka the flu, is a contagious respiratory infection caused by several flu viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NIAID.
Each year, the flu makes millions of people sick and causes thousands of hospitalizations and flu-related deaths. During the flu season, for example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC estimates there were up to 56 million illnesses, , hospitalizations, and 62, deaths from the flu in the US.
The virus can be especially risky for certain groups, including the very young, elderly, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions, which is why it's so scary that you can have influenza and not know it. People who get infected with the flu may develop symptoms like fever, chills, muscle aches, coughing, congestion, headache, and fatigue for about a week.
Most flu patients get better within two weeks, but some people can develop serious complications, like pneumonia, NIAID says. It's important to point out that an incubation period isn't unique to the flu. COVID, for example, also has an incubation period, as do plenty of other infectious diseases. So, if you pick up the flu from a friend who is sick, the time between when you hung out and when you start showing symptoms is the incubation period.
Your body begins mounting a response to the virus as soon as you're exposed to it, through something called your innate immune system , or the one you were born with that helps keep harmful materials from entering your body.
The contagious period for the flu begins about 1 day before symptoms start and can last as long as days from when you first felt sick. Both the flu and a cold are generally spread through the air, by close contact, or contaminated surfaces. To help prevent the spread of illness, it is important to wash your hands, eating utensils, and linens frequently and thoroughly. Grein also recommends covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, cleaning your hands often with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand rub, and avoiding touching your face as much as possible.
Skip to content. First things first: Do you have a cold or the flu? Read: Is It a Cold or the Flu? When can I go back to work or school? Children and some people with weakened immune systems may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms can begin about 2 days but can range from 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
Some people can be infected with a flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those people may still spread the virus to others. You may be able to pass on flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
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