> In reality, most people have never even had the flu. They often mistake a severe common cold for the flu. Really? My understanding is that high fever and bod

> In reality, most people have never even had the flu. They often mistake a severe common cold for the flu. Really? My understanding is that high fever and body aches are the distinguishing factors between flu and other illnesses, and I distinctly remember having the flu a few times (including when I had it a few years ago and was given a test to confirm). I'd be very surprised if fewer than 50% of the population had ever had the flu. I would agree that people sometimes use the word "flu" to refer to things that are not actually the flu, but I doubt that there are that many people out there who have been around for ~4 decades but never got the flu.