US Trends

can you get the flu twice in one season

Yes, you can get the flu twice in one season, but it’s usually because you catch a different strain of the virus, not the exact same one coming back.

Can You Get the Flu Twice in One Season?

Quick Scoop

  • Yes, it’s possible to get the flu more than once in a single season.
  • The most common reason is exposure to a different influenza strain (for example, influenza A first, then influenza B later).
  • Back‑to‑back or “twice in a month” infections are uncommon but can happen, especially if your immune system is run down or new strains are circulating.
  • Good vaccination, hand hygiene, and avoiding sick contacts remain your best defenses.

Why Flu Can Hit You Twice

Flu season (typically October through May) is long, and multiple strains circulate at the same time.

Key points:

  • Multiple strains in one season
    • Influenza A and B both cause seasonal epidemics, and each has multiple subtypes/lineages.
* Getting sick (or vaccinated) against one strain does not guarantee protection against the others.
  • Immunity is strain‑specific
    • After you recover from one bout of flu, your immune system builds antibodies that mainly target that specific strain.
* That immunity offers only partial or no protection if you meet a significantly different strain later in the season.
  • Same strain twice?
    • True reinfection with the exact same strain in a short time is thought to be less likely because your immune system “remembers” it.
* What feels like “the flu again” is often either a different strain or another respiratory virus (like a bad cold or COVID) that mimics flu symptoms.

How Close Together Can Two Flu Infections Be?

Clinics and urgent care providers report that people can get influenza more than once in a single season, and even within weeks.

  • Getting the flu twice in one month is possible but relatively uncommon and usually involves different strains.
  • “Back‑to‑back” flu (you recover, then get hit again soon after) is more likely if:
    • You were exposed to a different influenza type/subtype.
    • Your immune system was already weakened by the first infection, stress, or other illness.

Imagine your immune system like a security guard who just learned to spot one intruder wearing a red jacket; a second intruder might walk in wearing blue and still slip past.

Who’s More Likely to Get Flu Twice?

Some groups have a higher risk of getting flu complications or repeat infections.

Higher‑risk or more vulnerable groups include:

  • Young children (especially under 2).
  • Adults 65 and older.
  • Pregnant people.
  • People with chronic conditions (heart, lung, kidney disease, diabetes, weakened immune system).
  • People in crowded or communal living situations (nursing homes, dorms, some workplaces).

If you fall into one of these categories and feel like you have flu symptoms again, seeing a healthcare provider is especially important.

Flu vs Other Illnesses (When It “Feels” Like Flu Twice)

Sometimes what seems like “the flu again” is actually:

  • A severe cold or another respiratory virus.
  • COVID‑19, RSV, or other infections that cause fever, aches, and cough similar to flu.

Typical flu tends to come with:

  • Sudden high fever.
  • Body and muscle aches.
  • Marked fatigue.
  • Headache.
  • Dry cough.

Because symptoms overlap, testing (rapid flu tests or combo flu/COVID tests) is often the only way to know for sure which bug you have.

What You Can Do to Avoid Getting Flu (Again)

Even if you’ve already had the flu this season, prevention still matters.

1. Get (or stay) vaccinated

  • Annual flu shots are recommended for most people 6 months and older.
  • The vaccine is updated regularly to target the most likely circulating strains and can still help protect you even after a previous infection.

2. Use everyday protection

  • Wash hands often with soap and water, or use alcohol‑based sanitizer when soap isn’t available.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick when you can.
  • Cover coughs/sneezes and consider a mask in crowded indoor spaces during peak season.

3. Support your immune system

  • Rest, manage stress, eat as well as you can, and stay hydrated.
  • Follow your healthcare provider’s advice on managing chronic conditions so your body is better prepared if exposed again.

When to Call a Doctor (Especially If It’s “Round Two”)

Seek medical care promptly if you:

  • Have trouble breathing, chest pain, or new confusion.
  • Have high fevers that won’t come down or that return after seeming to improve.
  • Are in a higher‑risk group and feel like you have flu symptoms again.

Antiviral medications (like oseltamivir and others) can sometimes reduce the severity and duration of flu if started early, especially in higher‑risk people.

Mini Forum‑Style Take

“I had the flu in November, got better, and then in January I got slammed again. I thought it was impossible, but my doctor said it was probably a different strain.”

Stories like this are common in flu‑heavy years, especially when multiple strains are circulating widely.

Mini SEO Bits

  • Focus question: can you get the flu twice in one season – yes, particularly if different strains are circulating.
  • Current context: Recent seasons have seen multiple co‑circulating influenza strains, raising the odds of repeat infections for some people.

Quick TL;DR

You can get the flu twice in one season, usually because you encounter a different strain than the one you had before. Vaccination, good hygiene, and early medical care if you get sick again are your best protections.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.