The leaves have started to turn and fall is again kicking off around the United States. Throughout clinics and hospital systems, healthcare and school professionals are preparing for an increase in respiratory illnesses this flu season.
Influenza, colloquially called “the flu,” is a highly contagious virus. It’s spread through respiratory droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks. Unfortunately, when someone contracts the flu, they develop a series of symptoms that can make it difficult to attend work or school; in many cases, the flu completely disrupts these activities.
Here’s more on what to expect during the 2025–2026 flu season.
Symptoms of Influenza
Sometimes, it can be hard to know if someone has the flu or another illness. Symptoms can overlap, but the most common symptoms of influenza include:
- A high fever, usually over 100.44°F
- A dry or productive cough
- A runny or stuffy nose
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Nausea and vomiting (particularly common among children)
- Headache
- Muscle aches and pains
- Sore throat (which may be severe)
It is important to note that not all people have the same symptoms. For example, many people who get the flu won’t have a fever. And, in some rarer cases, people who get influenza develop complications — pneumonia, asthma attacks, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), and others are possible.
Most people recover from the flu within two weeks. For those who have not, it’s a good idea to stay in touch with your healthcare provider.
How Do You Treat the Flu?
The flu is treated in multiple ways, some of which will depend on how sick someone is and if they seek professional care. One of the better methods to address influenza is with an antiviral drug. Antiviral drugs can help make an illness milder and reduce the length of time someone is sick. In some cases, these drugs can also help prevent complications of influenza, like pneumonia.
Normally, people need to take antivirals within the first two days of having symptoms to get the best results. These medications are only available through a prescription, which means only those who go to clinics, call their doctors, or go to the hospital have an opportunity to try them at the start of an illness.
The positive note is that most people don’t need antiviral drugs and will only have a mild illness anyway. For those with mild cases of influenza, staying home until they can go 24 hours without fever-reducing medications and a fever is the best course of action. Those who stay home can use medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever or pain, and they should drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
How to Protect Yourself and Others
Being aware of influenza, where it’s located, and the current strains can help individuals protect themselves from the risks. One way to do this is by monitoring the weekly updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). FluView is the organization’s weekly surveillance record and a good way for anyone in the country to find out if influenza is spreading or if the risk is low.
Another thing people should be doing is getting their annual vaccinations. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that everyone who is six months old or older get a flu vaccine annually. It says that all children, pregnant women, and adults should receive a seasonal flu vaccine in a single-dose formulation. ACIP recommends against vaccines with thimerosal.
Vaccination Guidance for the 2025–2026 Flu Season
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes recommendations to manufacturers of vaccinations to let them know which variations of influenza are most likely to occur annually. The FDA does this by reviewing U.S. and global surveillance data while also meeting with scientific and public health experts. This year, the FDA has recommended an influenza vaccine composition made up of H1N1, H3N2, and influenza type B virus strains.
On top of getting the recommended flu vaccination, there are some additional ways people can stay safe throughout flu season. People can stay healthier by:
- Staying home when they’re sick. Those who have been unwell can go back to their normal activities 24 hours after their symptoms resolve and they have not had a fever (and aren’t using fever-reducing medications).
- Wearing a mask or covering the nose and mouth. When coughing or sneezing, covering the nose and mouth can prevent respiratory droplets from spreading and affecting others. When a mask is worn by someone who is infected with influenza, it can help reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks also protect others against breathing in infected droplets and particles.
- Avoiding close contact with others. If someone is showing signs of illness, keep away from them when possible. A greater physical distance away from those who are ill can also help prevent the spread of a virus.
- Washing their hands regularly. Touching the nose, eyes, and mouth can spread viruses and lead to infection. Washing their hands regularly helps people reduce or eliminate germs on the skin and decrease the likelihood of getting sick.
Considerations for School Professionals
Schools have many children and professionals working together, and that can lead to the perfect breeding ground for viruses. To prevent the flu at school, it’s important to discuss the importance of handwashing and covering the mouth and nose while sneezing with students.
During flu season, it is also a good time to increase cleaning routines and use disinfectant wipes or sprays to kill viruses and bacteria on contact. Fortunately, even though flu viruses have the potential to live on surfaces for up to 48 hours, there are cleaning supplies that can quickly disinfect surfaces and reduce the viral load in the classroom, hallways, or lunchroom. Making a “wipe down” routine a part of the day in the classroom can help everyone stay healthier and avoid spreading illnesses.
Finally, if children or teachers feel unwell, it’s time to send them home. Reducing the amount of time they’re in the classroom will help minimize others’ exposure and minimize the spread throughout the school.
Stay Safe During the 2025–2026 Flu Season
Flu season is on its way. As the cooler months approach, it’s important for healthcare teams and school professionals to stay as healthy as possible. Being aware of the prevalence of the flu, taking protective measures, and understanding how the flu could impact hospital systems, clinics, patients, and providers is a great step toward reducing the risk of outbreaks and the complications that can come with them.
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