The name influenza has come from a Latin term Influentia, which means influence. Now, therefore, it is safe to assume that the disease spreads through the influence of something. When the name was coined, people only knew that if you were talking face to face with a person affected with the flu then you will catch the disease because you are in their ‘influence’, and hence the success of coining the term. Today, we know that influenza is a disease caused by a RNA virus, in mammals, and that it is highly infectious because it can spread rapidly through the air. However that is not all, the actual mechanism of the spread of influenza has been described below.

See, basically, when a person infected with the flu coughs or sneezes, then they are releasing a lot of the virus present within themselves into the atmosphere or rather air in their immediate environment. Now, these coughs create aerosols, or in simpler words, minuscule clouds of the virus in the atmosphere. Now, these cloud like formations, move within the human area infecting those with which they come in contact. Therefore, it is advisable to wear face masks at all times, whenever there is news of wide spread flu attacks in your neighbourhood or city.

However, this is not the only way in which flu spreads. There are many other ways in which the flu can spread. For example, bird droppings, any kind of buccal or nasal secretion, stool of human beings, blood and even body fluids. You will be surprised to know that even having sexual intercourse with an infected person can give rise to the healthy person catching influenza. Sometimes, if you come in contact with surfaces that are contaminated with the virus say for example, the spoon with which an infected person has eaten or the kerchief in which they have blown their nose, then you stand a high chance of catching the flu.

However, the source of infection is still very much undetected. It is not know for sure, which if these methods of transmission are the most sever and which act the fastest. It is a belief of scientists who work with the virus that the transmission in the form of airborne aerosols is the most important in the carrying around of the virus.

However, there are ways in which you can deactivate the virus although you may be infected with it and there maybe chances that the virus may get activated at any later time. But still, it is good to know what to use to keep the infection at bay. Now then, sunlight is a very important element along with disinfectants and detergents. It has been known that keeping your hands clean with the help of soap can help reduce the risk of infection to a great extent.