When can I kiss someone after the flu?

How long am I contagious with the flu?

According to the CDC, you are most contagious during the first 3 days of being sick. Flu virus can be found in most people starting 1 day before symptoms begin, and for up to 5 to 7 days after they get sick.

Young children and people with weakened immune systems can stay contagious longer than that.

• 1 day before symptoms: you can already spread it without knowing.
• Days 1 to 3: the most contagious stretch. No kissing.
• Up to day 5 to 7: you may still spread it, even as you feel better.

Why does kissing spread the flu?

The CDC says flu spreads mainly through droplets made when people cough, sneeze, or talk. Those droplets can land in the mouth or nose of someone nearby. Less often, people catch it by touching a surface with virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

Kissing puts your mouth and nose right next to someone else's, so it counts as close contact. The CDC advises people who are sick to stay home and away from others, including people they live with who are not sick.

What is the 24-hour rule?

The CDC says you can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both of these are true: your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had a fever without using fever-reducing medicine.

The medicine part matters. If you took Tylenol or ibuprofen and your temperature is normal, that does not count. Wait until your fever stays gone on its own.

• No fever for 24 hours.
• No fever reducers during those 24 hours.
• Symptoms improving overall, not just one good hour.

Why go easy for 5 more days?

The CDC notes you may still spread the virus after you feel better. For the 5 days after you return to normal activities, it suggests extra steps around other people, such as good hygiene like hand washing, keeping some distance, wearing a well-fitted mask, and cleaner indoor air. These steps matter most around people at higher risk of severe illness.

For a partner, that can mean a quick kiss instead of a long one, not sharing drinks, and washing your hands before you touch their face. If your fever comes back or you feel worse, the CDC says to stay home and away from others again.

What if my partner is at high risk?

The CDC lists groups at higher risk of serious flu problems. They include adults 65 and older, pregnant people and those up to 2 weeks after pregnancy, and people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or a weakened immune system.

If your partner is in one of these groups, take the extra 5-day steps seriously and consider waiting longer before close contact. If they get flu symptoms, the CDC says they should contact a health care provider right away. Flu antivirals work best when started within 2 days after symptoms begin.

Can my partner take Tamiflu to avoid catching it?

Sometimes, but it is not for everyone, and a doctor decides. The FDA label for Tamiflu (oseltamivir) says preventive use after exposure should start within 48 hours of close contact with an infected person. The label also says Tamiflu is not a substitute for a yearly flu shot.

So if your partner is at high risk and you kissed or were in close contact while you were sick, they should call a doctor within 2 days of that contact to ask whether it makes sense for them.

Another path is to watch closely for symptoms. If a high-risk partner starts to feel sick, the CDC says to contact a health care provider right away, since antivirals work best when started within 2 days after symptoms begin. Either way, keep up the precautions above.