Do homeless people spread contagious flus?

Answer 1

All people can spread the flu since it usually is an easily transmitted virus, one exception to this is the Avian "Bird" Flu which is rare and doesn't transmit easily from person to person.

Many homeless people do have a challenge with hygiene, since they don't have their own bathrooms and sinks, so if they are unable to wash their hands often enough, they can spread it to more people. Those who are lucky enough to find a shelter do not have this same problem.

Some homeless people are mentally challenged, have severe depression, are in poor health because of their circumstances or are in their circumstances due to poor health, and/or are addicts or alcoholics which can make them less aware of or less concerned with sanitation and proper hygiene. But this is not true of many unfortunate people who have lost their jobs and end up without a home, which is happening all too often in the economy of the US today.

However, there are people with homes who are just as careless about hygiene, are substance abusers, and mentally challenged, too. It is doubtful the spread by homeless people is much, if any, greater than by everyone else and especially if you consider that many are reclusive or choose to avoid other people and crowds, so they are in less contact to get and give communicable diseases.