What is flu and how is it spread?

Flu is a virus that affects the cells in your lungs. It can be caught at any time of the year, but the most common time is between December and March.

Flu is short for influenza and it is more than 'just a cold'. It gives you many symptoms including cough, fever, headache and general pains. It also makes you more likely to get pneumonia, which can be fatal.

Because your immune system declines as you age, you must take flu more seriously, especially if you're over 65.

Older people, and people who are not well to begin with, are more prone to serious complications that can follow a bout of flu.

The Department of Health recommends that everyone included in 'high risk' groups should have a flu vaccination every year.

Unlike other common viruses such as chickenpox or measles, there is not just one type of flu but several different viruses that change frequently. That's why you can get flu over and over again.

Flu is spread through the droplets released into the air when someone who has it sneezes or coughs. You can catch the virus by breathing in these droplets, or through contact with the surfaces where they have settled.

Washing your hands frequently and not sharing objects with anyone who already has the flu will help to cut down your chances of catching it.

Someone who has flu is usually infectious for about a week.