Can I get the flu twice? - Colds & Flu Message Board

genxsis · 03-06-2008, 12:33 PM

I got over the flu about 3 weeks ago, and now my Dad, whom I visited yesterday, has it. I know other people who regularly go out in public have it too. So I was wondering if I can get the flu again, or does the body build up some kind of resistance to viruses it has just overcome?

I thought maybe that would be the case, because otherwise the flu would be self-perpetuating. As long as one person had it, it would just keep spreading itself and never go away. Of course, that doesn't happen.

Funny thing is, when I got the flu, I had just gotten over a cold about a week before that. I really don't want to get sick again anytime soon!

SentenceDoing · 03-06-2008, 12:45 PM

When you get sick, your body builds up antibodies to whatever virus you had, and you won't catch it again. However, I think it's possible to catch a different strain. If you were exposed to a different strain of the flu than the one you had, it's possible for you to get that strain.

genxsis · 03-06-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SentenceDoing

When you get sick, your body builds up antibodies to whatever virus you had, and you won't catch it again. However, I think it's possible to catch a different strain. If you were exposed to a different strain of the flu than the one you had, it's possible for you to get that strain.

YES!!!!! Thank you! I kind of doubt that there are many other strains going around right now other than the current one that the flu shot has been said to be only 40% effective against, which is probable why it's going around so much. Honestly though, I don't know how many strains go around at once. Hopefully, the "others" are covered by the shot.

Bengie · 03-06-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genxsis

YES!!!!! Thank you! I kind of doubt that there are many other strains going around right now other than the current one that the flu shot has been said to be only 40% effective against, which is probable why it's going around so much. Honestly though, I don't know how many strains go around at once. Hopefully, the "others" are covered by the shot.

in the US there are 4 different strains of the flu going round. if you got one of them then you can still get the others.