[Music] 100 years ago pandemic influenza killed hundreds in Alaska in over 600,000 Americans could this happen again although we have preventive vaccines effective antiviral drugs an intensive care support for those who are severely ill scientists agree the answer is yes many people think that colds and other mild illnesses that are common in the winter are the flu real influenza is oftentimes a severe illness with debilitating muscle pain and respiratory symptoms there really is no such thing as just the flu but there are ways you can protect yourself and your family washing your hands with soap and water and avoiding touching your eyes nose and mouth getting enough rest and if you're sick stay home and cover your costs and most importantly get your flu vaccine vaccination is recommended annually for everyone aged 6 months and older the flu vaccine is not a hundred percent protective influenza viruses evolve quickly sometimes faster than the annual vaccine can be developed a current focus of research is identification of parts of the virus that are conserved and can be targets for future vaccines that can protect against all flu strains but in the meantime getting your annual flu vaccine is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself and prevent spread of infection to others