The flu season typically starts in late November and lasts through early spring. The flu affects about 30- 50 million Americans each year. The flu differs from the common cold in that it lasts longer (about two weeks) and can be temporarily debilitating even in healthy individuals. There are three types of Influenza viruses – A, B, and C. Influenza A is further categorized into subtypes based on the type of two surface proteins – hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase