How long you’re contagious with the flu — and when it’s safe to go out

The U.S. is successful the heavy of flu season, with galore states reporting "moderate to precise precocious activity" of influenza-like illness, according to the CDC.

With influenza A (H3N2), oregon subclade K, making up a ample information of the circulating viruses, doctors stress the value of getting the astir caller flu vaccinations, staying astatine location portion sick and washing hands frequently, among different prevention tactics.

If you’ve been exposed to oregon infected with influenza, here’s what to cognize astir however agelong the microorganism is transmissible.

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"You are typically contagious with the flu for 5 to 7 days aft symptoms start," Dr. Samantha Picking, the Massachusetts-based elder manager of immunizations astatine Walgreens, told Fox News Digital.

"However, immoderate groups stay contagious for longer periods. Young children and radical with weakened immune systems tin dispersed the microorganism for much than 7 days, sometimes extending to 2 weeks oregon longer."

The U.S. is successful the heavy of flu season, with galore states reporting "moderate to precise precocious activity" of influenza-like illness, per the CDC. (iStock)

It’s a story that radical can’t beryllium contagious until they acquisition symptoms, according to Picking.

"The flu is astir contagious during the archetypal 3 to 4 days aft symptoms appear," she said. "However, you tin statesman spreading the microorganism a time earlier feeling sick and whitethorn stay contagious for up to a week oregon longer."

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The incubation play — the clip betwixt vulnerability to the microorganism and erstwhile symptoms commencement — is typically 2 days, though it tin scope from 1 to 4 days, the pharmacist added. People with mild symptoms tin inactive dispersed the flu. 

"The vaccine inactive provides extortion against superior unwellness resulting from the subclade K variant that seems to beryllium going around," a doc told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

For anyone who is starting to consciousness sick oregon has been astir idiosyncratic who has the flu, Picking recommends limiting interaction with others to debar spreading the virus.

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"To beryllium harmless and forestall spreading the virus, enactment location until you're fever-free for astatine slightest 24 hours without utilizing fever-reducing medicine," Picking advised. "For astir steadfast adults, this typically corresponds to 5 to 7 days aft symptoms begin."

People tin instrumentality other precautions, similar masking, for a fewer days aft returning to mean activities, she added.

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"However, usage your champion judgement and consult a healthcare nonrecreational if you’re unsure whether you’re good capable to permission the house," she added. "If your different symptoms aren’t improving, oregon you mostly inactive consciousness ill, it’s omniscient to enactment location and signifier bully manus hygiene."

Young children and radical with weakened immune systems whitethorn beryllium capable to dispersed the microorganism to others for a longer clip period, sometimes for up to 14 days, according to the pharmacist.

"Stay location until you're fever-free for astatine slightest 24 hours without utilizing fever-reducing medicine."

Picking noted that a cough tin linger for weeks aft different symptoms person abated. "While a lingering cough is not needfully a motion that you’re inactive contagious, it’s considerate to disguise up and signifier bully cough etiquette erstwhile astir others," she advised.

Some antiviral medications, erstwhile initiated aboriginal on, tin shorten however agelong idiosyncratic is contagious with the flu.

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"These medications enactment champion erstwhile started wrong 2 days of seeing symptoms," Picking noted. Anyone who is funny successful antivirals should talk with a healthcare supplier oregon pharmacist for personalized guidance. 

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Flu symptoms tin see fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore pharynx and runny nose.

Subclade K has been detected arsenic the culprit successful rising planetary cases, causing much aggravated symptoms and higher hazard of spread.

The flu is astir contagious during the archetypal 3 to 4 days aft symptoms appear, a pharmacist said. (iStock)

"It’s becoming evident that this is simply a beauteous terrible variant of the flu," Dr. Neil Maniar, prof of nationalist wellness signifier astatine Boston’s Northeastern University, antecedently told Fox News Digital. "Certainly, successful different parts of the satellite wherever this variant has been prevalent, it's caused immoderate terrible illness, and we're seeing an assertive flu play already."

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"The vaccine inactive provides extortion against superior unwellness resulting from the subclade K variant that seems to beryllium going around," helium added.

Angelica Stabile contributed reporting.