A debilitating, even crippling, cold or flu. Strong enough to take down even the mightiest of mortals. Usually passed from co-worker to co-worker until every soul in the workplace has succumbed to its unavoidable embrace.
Frank: Where's Bruce?
Roger: He's out for a few days with the empazootie}.
Frank: Hell! Stay away from me cuz you prolly just aren't feeling the symptoms yet.
An illness that really makes you feel really bad but unknown where or what or why of the cause. Only way to get rid of it is to drink plenty liquids(preferably alcohol).