Influenza, commonly called the flu, is caused by RNA viruses and is highly infectious in nature, which makes the possibility of frequent flu outbreaks very real. It is different from the virus that causes the common cold, being far more severe in nature. These viruses affect only mammals (including humans) and birds and there is a tendency for transmission from one species to another. This makes it very difficult to control flu outbreaks, not least because developing vaccines for any kind of viral infection is a very tedious process. The most common symptoms of any kind of flu is fever (with or without chills) and coughing (dry or wet), though body pain, headaches, weakness and nausea are frequently seen. If left untreated, influenza can turn into pneumonia, which can be prove fatal in some cases. Influenza is spread when an infected animal or bird coughs and / or sneezes as well as through most bodily secretions, like saliva, blood, faeces, etc. The virus is inactivated by detergents, sunlight and disinfectants, so it is possible to limit any flu outbreak by being extra hygienic - washing hands frequently, wiping possible contaminated areas with soap and disinfectants, etc. Influenza usually peaks seasonally - generally outbreaks are more frequent when the weather is colder and sunshine, less.

Since the viruses that cause influenza keep evolving and mutating rapidly, one strain may die out totally within a year while another will change form within weeks to form a totally new strain. That is why it is almost impossible to have one or even a few medications that are effective against all types of influenza. Depending on how rapidly and severely a particular virus attacks man, animal or bird, the disease can be classified as a localised outbreak, an epidemic or even a pandemic - when it spreads across continents. It has been estimate that in every year, about 500,000 people die of influenza and related complications out of an infected population worldwide between 3 and 5 million. As per records, about 3 pandemics occur every century, each having the capacity to kill tens of millions of people.

To prevent such outbreaks people have resorted to both allopathic and homeopathic medicines to control the disease. For the former, the most effective control mechanism has been inoculations against specific strains of virus. Homeopathic medicine, which goes in for treatment of the symptoms, uses a number of naturally available substances, mixed in specific combinations to provide relief to those suffering from the flu. Some innovative ideas have been used to target specific strains of the virus - one company uses a basic preparation like influenzinum, arsenicum album, apis mellifica, bryonia, belladonna, nux vomica, etc, to which it adds remedies known to be effective against strains currently infecting people (as per public health data) and another formulation which generally strengthens the immune system for the fight ahead. They claim that since their formulations are not 'static', the changes they make each year helps habitual flu sufferers get over the discomfort better and quicker.