Wow, some posters on here assume I am an idiot or extremely uneducated. Geez. I've had influenza. I know the symptoms. First round he went to the doctor who definitely thought it was influenza. So maybe we are all ignorant here? lol It's pretty darn easy to differentiate between a cold, etc... and actual influenza. Influenza hits you like a brick and knocks you down. That's what he has had both times. He is at a small, private, fairly isolated college so it makes sense that it would spread like wildfire. Not everyone runs to the doctor to get a test when you know what it probably is. In fact, the medical community DOES NOT want everyone running to the doctor to get tested. Most doctors usually know what is circulating in the local community anyway.