Three Viruses to Watch for in the Winter – University of Utah Health Care

Flu or Influenza is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. It causes 20,000 to 50,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

The virus can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and death in people of all agesbut children under age two, adults older than 65, pregnant women, people with conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable and more likely to get severely ill.

These groups and everyone older than 6 months, can get vaccinated to better protect themselves. "While the vaccine isnt perfect, its a good tool," Pavia says. "Weve been recommending the flu vaccine to all children for almost two decades to prevent serious illness and hospitalization."

According to Pavia, you become more vulnerable to flu as you ageyour risk of severe flu goes up substantially in your 50s and even more so in your 60s and on. The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu shot every year.

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Three Viruses to Watch for in the Winter - University of Utah Health Care