From Wikipedia-“Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort.[1] Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a more severe disease caused by a different type of virus.[2] Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children,…”
I am over my work colleagues complaining that they have the flu. I want to slap them into some sense. If you have the flu you would not be at work with a slight cold.
I used to not understand when people talked about the flu killing people- people talked about the 1919 flu pandemic killing more poeple than war did in WWI. I used to think how could people die of a sniffle. That was when I was younger. I have learned.
I had the flu once- I was flat on my back for 5 days- aches everywhere. The only time I have ever had time off work.
The ABC had a news item on a new flu season being deadly this year. As part of their vision was a guy walking down the road patting his nose because he had a runny nose. Do I have to scream at a news service - A sniffle is not the flu!
Perhaps we need new terms. In Melbourne most people say they have the flu when they just have a cold. I think they want their affliction to sound serious. When you hear someone say they have the flu, you know they have a cold. I do not know whether this just occurs in Melbourne. I do not think so.
So we need new terms- either a new term for common cold or new term for the flu.
Please stop saying you have the flu when you do not.
To others, please scream at those who do.