General overview

Flu and colds are caused by different sort of viruses. While genuine flu is caused by the influenza virus, the common cold (sometimes called a "grippe" infection) may be caused by over 200 cold viruses that have been identified to date. But all of them, cold and flu viruses, are very contagious and can be spread by the following mechanisms: person-to-person transmission (either by direct contact or by breathing in fluid drops suspended in the air), touching surfaces (handles, money, doors, etc.) that contain the virus and then touching one’s mouth or nose, or simply being in a crowded environment where the viruses are present in other people or on surfaces.