Flu is highly contagious and spreads through inhalation of air droplets containing respiratory secretions from persons with flu. These secretions are aerosols of viruses that contaminate the air, hands and surfaces of our environment. You can get these aerosols when the person with flu coughs and sneezes. You can even get flu when you handle objects contaminated by these secretions such as tissue paper.

          The incubation period of flu is 1 to 4 days. Transmission through a community is rapid, with the highest incidence of illnesses occurring within 2 to 3 weeks of introduction, and with the outbreak lasting for 6 to 10 weeks.