Influenza, commonly called the flu, is an illness caused by RNA viruses that infect the respiratory tract of many animals and humans. There are three main types of influenza viruses: influenza A, influenza B, and influenza C. Common signs and symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue. Influenza spreads mainly from person to person through droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking. It can be diagnosed through virus isolation from nasal secretions or using paired serum samples. Prevention methods include both inactivated flu shots and live attenuated nasal spray vaccines. Over-the-counter medications can help reduce fever and relieve body aches associated with