In the U.S., the flu season can run from November through April. During the past 19 flu seasons, months with the heaviest flu activity (peak months) occurred in December in 4 years, January in 5 years, February in 7 years, and March in 3 years. Normally this wouldn't cause much alarm, but, recent anthrax attacks have many people concerned because there's been wide reporting of the similarity of symptoms from an anthrax infection and the common flu. It's only natural for some people to worry that if "flu-like" symptoms show up, there is a possibility, no matter how remote, that anthrax might be involved. Since KTVU Channel 2 news believes that information empowers people, we present a compilation of expert information to discuss this timely issue.

In simplest terms, here's how the U.S. Centers for Disease Control differentiates between colds, flu and anthrax:

Symptom	Cold	Flu
FEVER	Rare in adults and older children, but can be as high as 102 degrees F in infants and small children.	Usually 102 degrees F but can go up to 104 degrees F and usually lasts 3 to 4 days.
HEADACHE	Rare	Sudden onset and can be severe
MUSCLE ACHES	Mild	Usual, and often severe
TIREDNESS/ WEAKNESS	Mild	Can last two or more weeks
EXTREME EXHAUSTION	Never	Sudden onset and can be severe
RUNNY NOSE	Often	Sometimes
SNEEZING	Often	Sometimes
SORE THROAT	Often	Sometimes
COUGH	Mild hacking cough	Usual and can become severe

ON ANTHRAX SYMPTOMS

Anthrax symptoms depend on how the person got the disease. These are the symptoms for the three types:

Inhalation (breathing): The initial symptoms, which may mimic flu-like symptoms, include fever, chills, sweats, tiredness, muscle pain, chest discomfort, dry cough, and vomiting. However, several hours to several days later they progress to severe breathing problems and shock.

Cutaneous (skin): Skin infection begins as a raised, itchy, bump that resembles an insect bite, but within one to two days develops into a fluid-filled sore, and then into a painless ulcer with a black (dead) center. Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell.

Intestinal: Rarely seen. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea.

GET TOM'S COMPLETE GUIDE:

Get Tom Vacar's complete guide to flu/cold information (vaccine info, health department contacts, and more). (NOTE: The guide is an Adobe Acrobat Reader file: clicking on the link will launch Acrobat Reader, and then you can print out the guide or read it on your computer.)

TOM'S BIO/CHEMICAL DEFENSE GUIDE:
KTVU's Tom Vacar addresses biological/chemical warfare concerns with simple information, web links, phone numbers, and other information that will allow you to be better prepared.