17,394
edits
Changes
no edit summary
[[File:Flu und legende.jpg|right|240px]]
[[File:Flu und legende.jpg|right|240px]]
'''Influenza''' or '''flu''' is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza [[virus]]es. It is spread from one person to another through tiny droplets that are released into the air when an infected person flu coughs or sneezes.<ref>It can be spread from contact with infected birds, pigs or other animals.</ref>. Winter is the worst season. Influenza caused a deadly worldwide pandemic in 1918-1919, as populations were weakened in the aftermatch of World War I. Over 20 million died worldwide.
'''Influenza''' or '''flu''' is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza [[virus]]es. It is spread from one person to another through tiny droplets that are released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.<ref>It can be spread from contact with infected birds, pigs or other animals.</ref>. Winter is the worst season. Influenza caused a deadly worldwide pandemic in 1918-1919, as populations were weakened in the aftermatch of World War I. Over 20 million died worldwide.
A worldwide H1N1 "swine flu" epidemic is underway in 2009, caused by a new strain; so far the deaths from the new strain have been few.
A worldwide H1N1 "swine flu" epidemic is underway in 2009, caused by a new strain; so far the deaths from the new strain have been few.