Flu spreads easily from person to person. This is especially true in places where people are close together like schools, workplaces, and households. 

Flu viruses travel in droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of nearby people or be inhaled into the lungs.

You can also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it like doorknobs, phones, or countertops, and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

People with the flu can spread the virus up to a week after getting sick. Children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for even longer.

Influenza can be spread by infected people beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. 

While anyone can get the flu, some people are at higher risk of developing serious complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, or even death. 

• Children under 5 years old, especially infants
• Adults 65 and older
• Pregnant people
• People with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney or liver disease
• People with weakened immune systems
• Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities
• Healthcare workers and others in close contact with vulnerable individuals 

Preventing flu in high-risk populations can reduce hospitalizations, protect healthcare systems from being overburdened, and save lives especially during peak flu season.