I was never sure that 'the flu' or 'influenza' wasn't just some all-emcompassing word to describe being sick especially with an upset stomach or the craps.

As such, I'm not sure if I've ever even had the 'the flu.'

Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."