The word “flu” is often thrown around to describe winter illnesses... But the flu is actually a very specific virus called Influenza that is extremely contagious- affecting the respiratory tract including the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. (It is not what many call the “stomach bug” or “stomach flu” which is a gastrointestinal illness that involves frequent vomiting and diarrhea). The severity of the flu depends on a lot of factors and although it can be a serious