What is the most common way that the flu is spread?

Question

I recently developed what I believe is a mild flu, and I am trying to think where and when I might have caught the flu. I believe it may have been in ski lift queues, on a T bar tow, or it might just have been some packets of mayonaise I took from the cafeteria (likely to have had many hands touching them).

Given the above information do you think it is most likely to be through the air, or through contact with food?

Answer 1

by watching MTV.

Answer 2

Im gonna keep this short because as a rule I just try and see if i can wind those american w.........kers up as much as poss! The problem with flu or just man flu is that it is at its most contagious 2-3 days before any symptoms are experienced! Once symptoms develop research shows that the flu and or cold os no longer contagious as it is has little resiliance once antibodies kick in! Youre right about the Cafeteria as a culprit though thats for sure! Can only be passed through the air though really ie when people cough, breath or snee3ze so beware! If you suffer from alot from colds/flu go and get the free vaccination at your docs! I ve had it for the last 6-7 years and ive been relatively cold/flus free since! Get well soon!

Answer 3

How does the flu virus spread?

This is how the flu virus often spreads:

Step 1:
An infected person "sheds" the virus from their nose and throat. The virus is then transmitted in two ways:

Step 2
The virus is "aerosolised" (infected droplets) by speaking, sneezing or coughing. Sneezing propels the flu virus at about 167 km/h over a distance of 5m - all within a tenth of a second, according to Prof Barry Schoub, head of the National Institute of Virology in Johannesburg.

Step 3
The virus can also contaminate hands, or objects such as hankies, utensils, doorknobs, toys, kitchen counters, washbasins, handrails, escalator rails and pencils.

Step 4
By touching your nose, mouth or eyes after touching an infected object (which has been touched by an infected person or "sprayed" by infected droplets), you've completed the cycle. The risk of infection is the very high through infected hands. That's why it's so important to wash your hands regularly.

Last but not least
Alternatively, you can also get the flu by inhaling infectious particles in the air (such as respiratory secretions from a cough or sneeze, as in step 2).

Answer 4

How is influenza transmitted?

The influenza viruses mainly are spread from person to person through droplets produced while coughing or sneezing. Droplets of an infected person are propelled by coughing and sneezing into the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. This droplet transmission of the flu is a kind of contact transmission.

The influenza viruses can also be transmitted by indirect contact by touching a contaminated object or surface and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose before washing your hands. This is also called fomite transmission - a fomite is any surface or inanimate thing (door knobs, telephones, towels, money, clothing, dishes, books, etc.) that has a contagious or infective agent after an infected person contaminated it by touching it or sneezing on it. Viruses can survive on surfaces - longer on hard, impermeable surfaces than on porous surfaces. The viruses can still be infective for two hours and maybe up to eight hours. It is easier to catch the common cold than influenza by fomite transmission because some of the "cold" viruses (rhinoviruses) have much smaller infectious doses than the “flu” viruses.

Answer 5

You could have caught it from touching anything that someone else has touched. That's why a lot of health-care facilities place such emphasis on cleanliness.

Now, you might have caught it from the air if an infected person had sneezed in your vicinity. But it's more likely to be through touch.

Answer 6

Hand touches things and droplets in the air....How to prevent it and not get it and all the info you need. See source for all youu need to know flu. In the mean time do not worry and do not believe influ's. I work with sick people all the time and I seem to some how not get it...it s the same with doctors...the think thy can not be sick and seem less likely to get te flu.....? So you think so you shall become. Enjoy Your Beautiful Life NOW.

Answer 7

Most likely, they say, by not washing your hands and the inhalation of the virus through your nose.
But I believe that 15mg of zinc citrate can help your immune system toss off any virus a lot quicker and has no down side.

Answer 8

i always find at this time of year, a trip 2 the Docs & i seem 2 end up with some sort of bug, within days!
all those people coughing/sneezing in a in-closed room, with the central heating turned up 2 full-blast.
off those lil germs/virus' go infecting all & sundry.

if only we could stop breathing.
i wish i could stop breathing & stop the onslaught of bugs.

Answer 9

Flu can be spread through air or contact, hard to avoid! The only things you can do is to take vitamin C regularly and wash your hands more often - I mean real washing your hands throughtly!

Answer 10

Through the air. You may have had all sorts of people coughing all over the place and not realized it.

Answer 11

By touching your eye noses mouth after touch someone or something infecting with the flu, Also simply inhaling someone Else's germs, yuck but true.
Eda