Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infection that is caused by various kinds of viruses that may spread from one individual to another. It brings along symptoms like a headache, fever, cold, soreness, and muscle aches.

Flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, and mouth, which are known as the mucous membranes of the body. It is most likely that every time you touch these parts, you are at risk of infecting yourself with one or the other kind of virus. This is the reason you must wash your hands properly and, in fact, this habit should be encouraged among other friends and family members as well.

Here are some common flu types that make hundreds and thousands of people sick every year.

Type A flu or Type A influenza
This type of virus is seen in both humans and animals. Wild birds are considered to be common carriers of this flu. This kind of flu virus is constantly changing and may spread over a very wide area and infect people living in those areas. The people who come in contact with a person who has this virus or are in contact with an object that the infected person has touched or sneezed upon may easily acquire the virus and fall ill.

Type B flu or Type B influenza
Type A and B are almost similar in nature, but Type B influenza may only be passed from one human to another. As opposed to a common notion, Type B shares a similar severity as Type A. Type B commonly infects a person with fever, which mostly crosses 100° F. Talking about severity, Type B is highly contagious and if not treated on time, it may become life-threatening.

Type C flu or Type C influenza
Virus C affects people and pigs. This virus has a milder effect than its counterparts, that is, part A and part B. It neither has a widespread reach nor causes people to become very ill.

H1N1 or swine flu
It first appeared in 2009 and spread worldwide. In the country alone, it infected almost 60 million people, out of which approximately 12,000 people died. It has had a recurring annual presence, but there is a vaccine that has helped decrease the infection.

It’s quite similar to other kinds of seasonal flu; the difference with regard to H1N1 is that it especially affects healthy adults under the age of 65.

Avian or bird flu or H5N1 virus
People who come in contact with H5N1 virus develop a cough and fever, and have a lot of difficulty in breathing. This virus is lethal as 60% of those who have come in contact with the virus have died.

The virus spreads if a person comes in contact with an infected bird. More specifically, it is caused when the person touches the infected bird and then touches any of the mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, and nose).

If you know that there is an outbreak of the virus in a country, you should refrain from going to that country. Even if you happen to visit the country, you may want to stay away from the poultry farms or the poultry in particular.