LC-Flusummary

Summarize (in complete sentences) what you know about these flu topics. (A brief paragraph for each)
 * Why is the flu a serious disease?
 * Influenza is a serious disease because it is easily spread and could potentially cause a pandemic, or break out of flu patients. Flu can also become a more serious illness. It can easily morph into Reye's syndrome or bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, bronchitis, and even death.
 * Influenza hospitalizes 200,000 people each year and 36,000 die from the flu each year.
 * How is the flu spread? Influenza can be spread by air or by contact
 * If a person sneezes, coughs, hiccups, etc. they release tiny viral particles that can easily be caught by others in close contact
 * If a person with the flu gets any kind of viral particle on hands or body and touches something, the virus will live outside of the body for quite some time. If another healthy person comes in contact with those particles and they get into the mouth, nose, or eyes, they will contract the virus as well.
 * This is why it is so important to wash your hands when you are sick, so that you do not spread the flu to others.
 * What are the benefits and risks of a flu vaccine?
 * A flu vaccine can prevent an illness, but most importantly it prevents the spread of influenza. The vaccine can fight off exposure to the flu for up to 6 months.
 * The flu shot can have side effects such as redness or soreness in the shot area, headaches, and/or naseau
 * The flu shot can also have bad effects on people who are allergic to eggs.