The 2016-2017 influenza season has peaked and flu activity continues to decline in the United States.
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. This season’s flu vaccines are reducing risk of illness by nearly half. CDC routinely recommends that influenza vaccination continue as long as flu viruses are circulating.
CDC also recommends prompt treatment with influenza antiviral drugs for people who are very sick with flu and people who are at high risk of flu complications who get flu.
Other Flu Web Sites
There are many different influenza A viruses; some are found in humans and others in animals such as avian flu in birds and poultry.
Avian influenza A viruses usually do not infect humans, but rare cases of human infection with these viruses have been reported. Most of the time, these rare infections have occurred after unprotected contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated with avian influenza viruses.
There are many different influenza A viruses; some are found in humans and others in animals such as swine flu in pigs.
CDC’s pandemic preparedness efforts include ongoing surveillance of human and animal influenza viruses, risk assessments of influenza viruses with pandemic potential, and the development and improvement of preparedness tools that can aid public health practitioners in the event of an influenza pandemic.
Bat influenza refers to influenza A viruses found in bats. Laboratory research at CDC suggests these viruses would need to undergo significant changes to become capable of infecting and spreading easily among humans. Little yellow shouldered bats are not native to the continental United States, but are common in Central and South America.
Dog flu is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by a specific Type A influenza virus referred to as a “canine influenza virus.” This is a disease of dogs, not of humans.
Influenza A viruses are found in humans and many different animals, including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses and seals. Additional information on 2009 H1N1 influenza, Flu.gov, and Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs).
Supply & Distribution
Seasonal Flu Microsite
Flu Activity & Surveillance
International Flu
The latest report on CDC’s international flu activities highlights the progress that has been made over the past two fiscal years in establishing, expanding and maintaining influenza surveillance and laboratory capacity in more than 50 countries around the world where CDC has provided support.
What's New
- H7N9 in China, Update Tuesday, May 23, 2017
- FluView - Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report Friday, May 12, 2017
- What CDC Does About Bird Flu Thursday, May 04, 2017
- CDC Study Finds Flu Vaccine Saves Children's Lives Monday, April 10, 2017
- Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD) and Influenza Thursday, March 23, 2017
- Page last reviewed: May 19, 2017
- Page last updated: May 19, 2017
- Content source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
- Page maintained by: Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Digital Media Branch, Division of Public Affairs