What should you know about influenza transmission?

The virus can enter another person's nose, mouth, or eyes when they are nearby. It may also spread when someone touches contaminated hands or surfaces and then touches their face. People can pass influenza before they realise they are ill and while symptoms are active. A cough, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, or a general unwell feeling can occur with influenza, but symptoms alone cannot show exactly when transmission began.

Crowded indoor spaces and close contact make exposure easier, especially when ventilation is limited. Influenza can sometimes lead to complications such as pneumonia, so reducing spread helps protect infants, older adults, pregnant people, and those with long-term health conditions.

Stay home when you feel unwell, avoid close contact, and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow. Wash hands with soap and water, clean frequently touched surfaces, and improve airflow indoors when possible. Do not share cups, utensils, towels, or personal items during illness. A well-fitting mask can add protection in crowded indoor settings or around people at higher risk. Follow local clinical advice about vaccination and ask how long you should limit contact after symptoms begin.

Arrange medical advice if symptoms are severe, worsening, or not starting to settle, or if you have a condition that raises the risk of complications. Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, chest pain, new confusion, fainting, severe weakness, or difficulty keeping fluids down. A clinician can assess whether influenza or another illness, including pneumonia, needs specific care.

Ask: How long should I avoid close contact? Should I test for influenza or another infection? Do my medicines or health conditions change my risk? When is it safe to return to work, school, or shared activities?