Influenza

Influenza, often shortened to the flu, was a type of Earth virus. Some strains of the disease are known to be particularly deadly. As a very common disease, some references to the disease may reflect a confusion of the symptoms or a misuse of the term.

Symptoms
The disease's symptoms could include delirium, diarrhoea, and vomiting, similar to those of a growth stage experienced by Killorans around the age of four. (PROSE: Mentioning the War)

History
Circa 1862, a twelve year old Gwyneth lost both her parents to the disease. (TV: The Unquiet Dead)

In 1906, Lady Edith Greystone died of influenza. (PROSE: 64 Carlysle Street)

In 1918 through 1919, an outbreak of Spanish flu killed around five percent of the human population worldwide, more than World War I. (PROSE: The Clockwise Man, TV: Children of Earth: Day Four) It's possible the Dark Force's dissipation was the cause of the outbreak. (PROSE: Casualties of War) Hugh Curbishley claimed that he had become restricted to a wheelchair as a result of the 1918 epidemic. (TV: The Unicorn and the Wasp)

As a sailor, Ben Jackson once saw a stowaway who had died of the disease before being discovered by the ship's crew. (PROSE: ''Pluto)

In 1965, in exchange for twelve children, the 456 provided an antivirus for a brand new form of the Indonesian flu which would mutate into a deadlier form within four months and stood to wipe out 25 million of Earth's human population if unchecked. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Four)
 * Whether the 456 created the strain is unknown. There is also no known connection with the virus released in Thames House by the 456 Ambassador.

In the 2000s, the alien virus carried by the toy Cuddlesomes was reported as a flu outbreak. Some believed it was specifically H591 Avian flu and Miranda Evenden suggested it came from toy factories in Asia. (AUDIO: Cuddlesome)

Mickey Smith once suffered from the flu and was nursed back to health by Rose Tyler. (PROSE: The Stone Rose)

In late 2006 or early 2007, three months before the destruction of Deffry Vale High School, half of the staff became sick with the flu following the arrival of the new headmaster. (TV: School Reunion)

In December of 2007, Wilfred Mott was unable to attend his granddaughter's wedding to Lance Bennett because he was bedridden with a severe infection which his daughter referred to as "Spanish flu". (TV: The Sontaran Stratagem)