How Long Does the Flu Last: 2025-2026 Season

Recovering from the flu is an uncomfortable process that often feels longer than it actually is. 

How long does the flu last?

On average, flu symptoms start showing within one to four days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms continue for about five to seven days after. For some, the symptoms may last closer to two weeks. If you have the flu, you are most contagious in the early days of your illness, but you can begin to infect others as soon as one day prior to your own symptoms even appearing.

Take comfort in the fact that while unpleasant, flu symptoms mean your immune system is working hard to ward off the virus.

What are the chances of having the flu?

Nearly 8% of the U.S. population comes down with the flu each season, according to the CDC. 

As students or colleagues return to school or work too soon after contracting a contagious respiratory illness, they put their fellow coworkers or colleagues at risk.

How do you spread the flu?

Active coughing and sneezing increase the spread of infection, so it’s generally best to avoid close contact with others if you are suffering from these conditions. A general rule of thumb is to wait until you are fever-free for 24 hours or longer before returning to school or work.

When is it safe to return to work after the flu?

When considering whether it's time to return to work after being out sick, it's important to keep in mind the impact your return will have not just on your own health, but on the health of your coworkers. You are likely healthy enough to return to work after being out sick if:

• You do not have symptoms including cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue
• You do not have a fever, especially a fever of over 100.3 degrees
• You have been fever-free for 24 hours without using pain relievers

Is there anything you can do to avoid getting the flu?

Getting an annual flu shot is one way to protect yourself against the flu. The flu shot is not a live vaccine and does not cause the flu. The flu shot takes about two weeks to provide immunity. Getting a flu shot is a personal decision and should be discussed with your doctor or healthcare provider. 

Other ways to avoid illness include washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before eating, getting enough rest and eating healthy.

Can you still get the flu if you had the vaccine?

Yes, it’s possible to still get the flu after getting vaccinated. While the flu vaccine will cover most common strains from the previous year, it does not include every strain. This means that while the flu shot is helpful for preventing flu, it is not a complete guarantee that you will not get it.

If you have already received your shot, you should still avoid others with the flu as they may have another strain of the virus than the ones you were vaccinated against.