Someone In Your House Has The Flu. Here’s How To Stay Healthy.

It starts subtly, with just a runny nose and a little fatigue. Maybe it’s your partner who is feeling a little run down, or your child who seems to be sluggish the last day or two. And then suddenly, it hits — the fever, aches, chills and congestion. The flu virus is officially in the house. And when someone at home has the flu, how do you keep it from spreading to everyone else?

How does the flu virus spread?

Influenza is a contagious virus that spreads from person to person via their body fluids. More specifically, the virus is carried by saliva droplets that spread through the air and onto surfaces when infected people cough, sneeze or talk.

Create a designated space for the sick person.

Whether you quarantine your kid to their room or move your spouse into the guest bedroom, it’s important to keep your distance where possible. Having them wear a mask when they need to be in common areas can help reduce transmission too.

“Individuals infected with Influenza A or B are typically contagious one day before symptoms appear and up to 5-7 days after symptom onset. However, young children, immunocompromised individuals and those with severe illness may remain contagious for a longer period,” says David A. Cabezas M.D., family medicine specialist at UF Health Urgent Care.

If someone in the household has influenza, Dr. Cabezas recommends the following precautions to prevent the spread:

1. Isolate the sick individual:
   • Keep the infected person in a separate room, if possible, and limit close contact with others.
   • Avoid sharing personal items such as utensils, towels and bedding.
2. Wear a mask:
   • The sick individual should wear a mask around others.
   • Household members should also consider wearing a mask during close contact.
3. Practice hand hygiene:
   • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
   • Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
4. Disinfect surfaces:
   • Clean high-touch surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, countertops, phones) regularly with disinfectants.
5. Improve ventilation:
   • Improve and increase airflow in the home by opening windows or using air purifiers.
6. Consider preventive medications:
   • Household contacts, particularly those at high risk (elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions), may consider antiviral medications (e.g., oseltamivir or zanamivir) as prescribed by their doctor.
7. Get vaccinated:
   • Get the annual flu vaccination. This is the best way to prevent infection and reduce severity.
8. Monitor for symptoms:
   • Household members should monitor for flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, body aches, sore throat and fatigue) and seek medical care if symptoms develop.

Sanitize surfaces and keep the laundry going.

“Surface material and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can impact how long the influenza virus can survive on different surfaces,” says Dr. Cabezas.

Survival on hard surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, countertops, phones, tables):

• The influenza virus can survive 24–48 hours on non-porous surfaces like plastic, metal and glass.
• The virus remains most infectious for the first few hours but can still pose a risk for a full day or longer.

Survival on soft surfaces (e.g., clothing, bed sheets, pillows, upholstery):

• The virus typically survives for a shorter time on fabrics and porous surfaces—around 8–12 hours.
• Absorbent materials like tissues, clothes and bedding may reduce viral survival because they wick away moisture, which the virus needs to remain viable.

Key prevention tips for household items:

• Disinfect surfaces: Use EPA-approved disinfectants, bleach solutions, or alcohol-based cleaners that contain at least 70% alcohol.
• Wash clothing and bedding: Launder contaminated clothes, pillowcases, sheets and towels in hot water (at least 140°F or 60°C) using detergent and dry them on a high heat setting.
• Avoid shaking contaminated fabrics: Shaking can release viral particles into the air.
• Sanitize frequently used items: Regularly wipe down items such as phones, keyboards, remote controls and doorknobs.
• Practice hand hygiene: Wash your hands frequently after handling contaminated objects.

Monitor yourself and the rest of your family for flu-like symptoms.

Despite your best efforts, it’s possible other people in your house may get sick. So, be mindful of how everyone is doing, and keep an eye out for new symptoms that might develop.

“If one family member falls ill, it’s important that everyone in the house monitor themselves for flu-like symptoms going forward,” says Dr. Cabezas. “It also helps to be seen by a primary care or urgent care provider early on in your symptoms so they can perform a simple flu test. If you are positive for the flu, the provider may prescribe an antiviral to help speed your recovery.”

Common flu symptoms include:

• body aches
• chills
• cough
• fatigue or feeling “run down”
• fever
• headache
• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite in children

The most important part of protecting yourself from the flu is getting your annual flu shot. But if the flu finds its way into your home anyway, these tips can help prevent it from infecting every member of the family.

Visit StJohns.UFHealth.org/urgentcare to learn more.