Getting the ‘flu may not be fun, but it is generally not something people tend to worry about too much- to most, it just means a lot of nose-blowing, a few days in bed and sick leave from work or school. However, it is influenza season in Sri Lanka, and everyone seems to be sniffling, coughing or woefully blowing their noses at every corner we turn. The last two months also saw a rise in the number of influenza cases in Galle, Matara and other towns down south, with many Sri Lankans worrying that we might be seeing an epidemic or even some new disease. While health authorities dismissed these fears and pointed out that the outbreak was the usual spike we see during the dreaded ‘flu season’, they also stressed on the importance of trying to combat its spread.