Flu is a contagious disease caused by the flu virus. This is also known as the influenza virus. When you have flu, the mucous membrane in the airways is inflamed. That can make you ill. Newborn babies are more likely to develop severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath.
Flu in short
| How do you get the virus? | Through talking, coughing and sneezing |
|---|---|
| Common symptoms | Fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, runny nose, fatigue |
| Serious symptoms | Pneumonia, severe shortness of breath |
| Which vaccination protects you against this disease? | Flu vaccination for pregnant women |
How do you get the flu?
Flu viruses are contained in droplets of snot, mucus and saliva. The viruses are spread when people talk, cough or sneeze. People can breathe in these droplets and get infected.
Babies can become seriously ill and develop shortness of breath as a result of the flu. In most cases, your baby needs to go to the hospital. Pregnant women are also more likely to get seriously ill from the flu.
Someone with the flu virus is contagious from one day before they have symptoms. The time between getting infected and developing symptoms is usually three to four days.
The flu occurs every year in the Netherlands, usually in the winter months. There are various types of influenza viruses that cause flu. These are changing all the time. That means that someone can get the flu again.
Protection against the flu
A flu vaccination during pregnancy can help protect your baby and yourself from the flu. Read more about the flu vaccination for pregnant women or how vaccination works. You can have the flu vaccination between 15 October and 1 March if you are 22 weeks pregnant or more.