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Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death among American adults.
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Each year, about 36,000 people die from influenza, and 114,000 people are hospitalized.
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Influenza is a highly contagious disease that is spread by coughing, sneezing and through direct physical contact with objects that carry the virus such as doorknobs and telephones.
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Symptoms of influenza include fever, extreme fatigue, headache and body aches; about 50% of infected people have no symptoms but are still contagious.
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Immunization is 70-90% effective in preventing influenza in health people under the age of 65.
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The influenza vaccine cannot cause influenza.
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New variants of influenza arise each year and therefore a new vaccine must be made and given each year.