Key messages
Flu transmits easily from person to person. It does this through the air or from contaminated hands or surfaces. The risk of getting or causing infection is easily reduced by taking some simple preventive steps. Immunisation in particular decreases the risk of a person being infected. Proper use of flu vaccines is the most effective form of protection.
Factsheet about seasonal influenza
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.
Questions and answers about antivirals
Frequently asked questions about the use of antivirals for prevention and treatment of influenza; What are the uses of antivirals against seasonal influenza? Which are the antivirals we use in Europe against seasonal influenza and who should get them? If antivirals are so good why don’t doctors give them out more often? Do people who have been immunized against influenza need antivirals?