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By now you’ve probably memorized all the possible ways you can get COVID-19. So if you are feeling a bit like an infectious disease expert in a wheelchair, you might be wondering how other illnesses in your life spread, like the flu.
Of course, you’ve known most of your life that good hand hygiene and doing your best to avoid sick people is a good way to lower your risk of the flu. But how does the flu really broadcast? Is the flu airborne or not? Here’s what you need to know.
What is the flu again?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness called by influenza viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are two main types of influenza: influenza A and influenza B, and they cause epidemics of seasonal influenza every year.
The flu can cause mild to severe illness, and it can lead to hospitalization and even death from the virus.
OK, so how does the flu spread?
The flu spreads mainly from person to person, and the CDC says those infected can transmit the virus to people up to six feet away. The flu is usually spread by respiratory droplets that emerge when infected people cough, sneeze, or speak.
These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people nearby or be inhaled into the lungs (disgusting, yes); these then make them sick. Less commonly, people can get the flu by touching an infected surface or object and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes, according to the CDC.
Is the influenza virus airborne?
It is possible, but it is not the primary mode of transmission of influenza. An airborne particle is a small particle that can stay suspended in the air for a period of time. Respiratory droplets are heavier, so they fall to the ground quite quickly after being expelled from a person, says Richard Watkins, MD, an infectious disease physician and professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University.
The CDC says the flu is spread largely through respiratory droplets. However, it is also stated that the airborne transmission can occur, but not over long distances, and not as often as via droplets.
“Influenza, like many respiratory viruses, has some components of airborne spread and some components of respiratory droplet spread,” says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, principal investigator at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It really is a continuum.”
In some situations, the flu is more likely to aerosolize and spread through the air, such as when a person is intubated in a hospital, says Dr Adalja. But he points out that this is different from a highly contagious airborne virus like measles, which is spread mainly through the air.
William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor in the faculty of medicine at Vanderbilt University, agrees. “The data would indicate that this only happens under certain circumstances,” he says. “The flu is spread widely through close personal contact. However, the flu may be more likely to hover in the air in the winter, when the air is drier, says Dr. Schaffner. “The little bit of liquid that covers the particles evaporates and they’re not as heavy,” he says. “This is one of the reasons why the flu is thought to be more common in winter – the air is drier then. “
Will COVID-19 prevention measures also protect people from the flu?
Absoutely. “Wearing a mask, social distancing and hand washing are effective prevention methods to avoid the flu,” says Dr. Watkins. “This is why last year we had a record number of influenza cases. “
“Last season we had almost no flu and we all stayed home washing our hands and wearing masks,” says Dr Schaffner. “All of this had a profound effect on reducing the influenza virus. ”
However, be aware that the COVID-19 vaccine will not protect you against the flu.
What else can you do to stop the spread of the flu?
Getting the flu shot is a must, says Dr Adalja. The flu shot has been shown to reduce flu-related illness and the risk of complications that can lead to hospitalization and death, the CDC points out.
A few more tips from the CDC:
- Stay away from sick people
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Wash your hands often
If you’re at high risk for flu complications, Dr. Schaffner recommends doing your best to practice social distancing when the flu is circulating in your community. “Maybe rent a movie instead of going to the movies,” he says.
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