Originally Published by Health
There’s a lot of time during influenza (flu) season, which starts in October and lasts as long as May, to dodge germs.
You might feel like you are safe if you already had the flu or got a flu shot, but you can get the flu twice in one season.
Your body builds up immunity against one strain of the virus through infection or vaccination, so you may be susceptible to another strain. Strains of influenza A and B cause seasonal epidemics, and more than one of these can circulate during flu season. Read on to learn why you can get the flu twice in one season and how to prevent infection.
Can You Get the Flu Again After Just Having It?
How many strains of flu are there? There are four different types of flu viruses: influenza A, B, C, and D. Influenza A and B cause seasonal epidemics in the fall and winter, and there are different strains of each.
How often can you get the flu? You might develop the flu twice in one year if you get infected with a different strain. The antibodies your body forms the first time do not provide the same level of protection.
Flu: Overview. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2019.
Can You Get the Same Strain of Flu Twice?
You can get the flu twice in one season because different strains of the virus circulate. In contrast, “Your likelihood of getting the same flu again is lower,” Denise Pate, MD, an internist at NYU Langone Health, told Health.
Your body develops an immune response after you have the flu that protects you from reinfection with the same strain. The immune system learns how to recognize and protect you from the same strain after exposure to it.
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