What is flu?

• Flu is the common name for a virus called ‘influenza’. 
• Viruses cause an infection in your body. 
• Flu causes an infection of your respiratory system (nose, throat and lungs). 

Symptoms of the flu

Symptoms are things you might feel that mean you are sick. Flu symptoms include: 

• fever 
• muscle aches 
• feeling very tired  
• headache 
• a cough 
• sore throat. 

How flu is diagnosed

• Your doctor may suspect flu based on your symptoms. 
• It is difficult to tell the flu from coronavirus (COVID-19). 
• Your doctor will send you for a swab of your throat and nose. 
• They will test for coronavirus (COVID-19), and they may also test for flu.  

How flu affects people

• The flu virus is contagious.  
• This means it spreads easily from person to person. 
• The flu virus can live for up to five minutes on your hands. 
• It can also live for up to a day on hard surfaces. 
• It spreads when infected people cough or sneeze without covering their mouths and noses. 
• It also spreads if you touch a surface that an infected person has touched. 
• It takes between one and four days to start feeling unwell if you are infected. 
• You can be contagious one day before symptoms start until one week after you start to feel unwell. 
• Contagious means you can spread the virus to other people. 
• Children and people with impaired immune systems may pass the virus on for longer. 
• An impaired immune system means your body can't protect you against infection as well as other people. 

How to treat flu

• Stay home and rest. 
• Avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. 
• You can take paracetamol if you have a fever, headache, and muscle aches.  
• Carefully follow the instructions on how much paracetamol to take. 
• See your doctor if your symptoms are getting worse. 
• In certain circumstances your doctor may choose to give you a medicine called an antiviral. Your doctor will decide if this is suitable for you.  
• Most people recover within a week. 
• Some people are more at risk. 

How to prevent flu

You can reduce your chances of catching flu or passing it to others by: 

• getting the flu vaccine every year  
• washing your hands often to get rid of the germs  
• Wash your hands using soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. 

What to do if you have flu 

• Cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze. 
• Stay home from work and let someone know you are sick.  
• If your child is unwell do not send them to childcare or school. 
• Avoid visiting people who are at risk of severe flu.  
• This includes young children, pregnant women, people with other medical conditions and the elderly. 
• Avoid visiting family or friends in hospital or aged-care homes. 
• Stay at least 1.5 metres away from other people, especially when coughing. 
• Call ahead if you need to see a doctor.  
• The medical service may plan your visit to prevent infection from spreading to others.  

Differences between the common cold and flu

• Other viruses can affect your respiratory system (nose, throat and lungs). 
• The ‘common cold’ is different to the flu. 
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) is also different to the flu. 
• Sometimes the symptoms can feel similar. 
•  Symptoms are things you might feel that mean you are sick. 
• The flu can cause more serious illness, like pneumonia. 
• Pneumonia can be life-threatening for older people or if you have certain medical conditions. 

Where to get more information

• Speak to your doctor or pharmacy. 
• Call Tasmania’s Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. 
• Visit the Immunise Australia website or call 1800 671 811. 
• Visit the Australian Government’s Influenza Immunisation Advice website.