What Is an Incubation Period?
Incubation (Lat. incubationem = a lying upon eggs) period is the time from exposure to a microbe (like influenza virus) to symptoms appearance.
What Is a Contagious Period?
Contagious (Lat. contingere = touch closely) period is the time during which an infected person is able to spread an infection to others.
Table 1: Incubation and contagious period of seasonal, swine and bird flu
| FLU TYPE | INCUBATION PERIOD | CONTAGIOUS PERIOD |
| SEASONAL INFLUENZA | About 2 days (1) | From 1 day before symptoms appearance to 7 days (or more in children), or 24 hours after cessation of fever (2) |
| SWINE FLU – 2009 PANDEMIC INFLUENZA H1N1 | 1 - 7 days (3) | From 1 day before symptoms appearance to 7 days (or as long as symptoms last) (3) |
| BIRD FLU – AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1 | 2 – 17 days (4)* | 7 days (up to 21 days in children) after symptoms appearance (5)* |
continue reading Incubation Period and Contagious Period of Seasonal, Swine and Bird Flu
