You need to be inoculated with this year's vaccine. There are 26 major medical centers organized into 12 service areas throughout California. Most people recover in one or two weeks, but complications, such as pneumonia, can be serious and even fatal. Since influenza is viral, antibiotics are ineffective. Preventing influenza is better than treating it.
Influenza viruses change constantly.
Once the viruses change, antibodies in the immune system produced by prior bouts of the disease don't recognize and attack them. Illness may result. Mutated influenza viruses can cause serious pandemics. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta keeps track of influenza viruses to reduce the chance of another unexpected mutation. This information is provided for educational purposes only.