Mind yereselves. According to the Irish papers, the main symptom that makes it clear it's flu, not a bad cold, is that with a cold it creeps up relatively slowly over a few days; with flu, it knocks you out within an hour - you're happily pootling around on your bike buying groceries and having cuppas with friends and doing a bit of work one minute, then suddenly you're laid flat with aches all over, raging fever, etc. They're advising that you stay away from the doctor's surgery so you won't infect others, and just get straight to bed.

Quote:

Flu symptoms include:

Sudden onset of symptoms
High fever - temperature over 38ºC/100.4ºF
Severe weakness and fatigue
Dry cough
Aching muscles and joints
Sore throat
Headache
Runny nose
Vomiting / diarrhoea

Common Cold symptoms include:

Sneezing
A blocked nose, or a runny nose
Pain when swallowing
Mild fever - temperature between 37 and 38.3°C or 98.6 and 101.0°F
Mild earache
Tiredness
Headache

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And they say if it's the Aussie flu it lasts longer than usual - don't expect to be up and back to work after a week.