Ebola And HIV Biology: The Influenza Virus

One can claim that influenza is an infection that has victimized people from just about every generation that we have known. The term Influenza comes from the Latin word "influentia", first used by the Italians in the 1600's. It is a highly contagious infection particulary of the respiratory tract.In addition to us humans, influenza can occur in pigs, horses, and several other mammals as well as in certain wild and birds. It can also jump from specie to specie as observed in late 1997 when influenza from chickens was having its effects on people in Hong Kong. Because influenza is highly contagious and spreads easily, it has appeared in our history many a times as epidemics. Influenza is caused by an

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

The influenza virus usually has a round shape; it can be elongated or even have an irregular shape at times. In addition, it has a layer of spikes on its exterior. Note that there are two different types of these spikes. Each spike has its own protein, one is the hemagglutinin (HA) protein and the other is the neuraminidase (NA) protein. The HA protein lets the virus to attach to a cell, so it can enter into a host cell and start the infection process (every virus must enter cells in order to make more copies of themselves). The NA protein is needed for the virus to leave the host cell, so that new viruses that were made inside the host cell can infect more cells. Because these proteins are present on the surface of the virus, they are visible to the human immune system. Inside the layer of spikes, are eight pieces of RNA that contain the genetic information for making new copies of the virus. Each segment contains instructions to make one or more proteins of the virus.

That differentiation occurs from time to time at irregular intermissions, which is responsible for widespread outbreaks and makes periodic reformulation of the influenza vaccine necessary. The disease is mainly extented through droplets in crowded and enclosed spaces. The infection may also be spread from person to person by direct contact with the secretions of infected persons. The incubation period is short, usually around 1 to 4

Influenza is a droplet infection caused by the virus orthomyxoviridae (1). A virus is a microscopic parasite which is usually much smaller than bacteria and viruses can also make you sick (2)(3). Their cell structure is not organized and do not contain a nucleus. Also most viruses are coated in a protein called CAPSID (4). Influenza reproduces through viral cell replication. This means that the virus will attach onto a host cell and inject its genetic material into it then it now is infected with the virus and this continues throughout all the cells (5). Unlike Bacteria viruses don’t rely on water or food because they do not need to respire. The main condition that they completely rely on is a host cell because without a host cell the virus

Influenza is very contagious and spreads rapidly from person to person. Influenza causes worldwide yearly epidemics. According to World Health organization Influenza affects 5-15% world’s population and resulting in 500,000 deaths yearly. Ottenberg stated that, in United States, an average of 200,000 were hospitalized and 36,000 died each year from influenza complications. Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death among US adults and is related to 1 in 20 death in persons older than 65 years. Disease control and prevention estimates indicate that infections like H1N1 which is one of the types of influenza, have resulted in an estimated 42 to 86 million cases and 8520 to 17620 deaths. As I mentioned earlier that infections like

First of all, the name “Influenza” is derived from the Latin word for “influence”, and it is an infectious disease that is caused by the RNA viruses from the Orthomyxoviridae family:

If an infected person were to sneeze or cough the virus is instantly airborne and ready to be breathed in by an unsuspecting individual. Touching an object after an infected individual, touching the infected individual, and coming into contact with bodily fluids from the infected person are other ways that one gets sick. With the many ways to infect individuals this makes the influenza virus a highly contagious virus. It can spread rapidly within a household due to the close proximity to the infected individual with no precaution. An outbreak can also travel swiftly through any community via community activities and visiting community areas. Even with a complete shutdown of air travel, a flu pandemic can still race through the globe in a matter of months. It is impossible to quarantine the infection because affected individuals become contagious a day before the onset of any symptoms show, trying to diagnose the influenza virus with fever, cough, and a few of its other symptoms is not an efficient way to diagnose the illness as suggested by C. van den Dool and associates. There are many cases where individuals who have the illness are not

Usually, flu infects if we touch an object that has the flu virus on it or through exposure to body fluids from people or animals infected with the virus. When an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes droplets carrying the influenza virus may land in mouth or nose of other person and then move into lungs. Once inside our body, the influenza virus comes into contact with cells in nose, throat or lungs. The H spike on the virus

There are only three types of influenza that infect humans, they are Type A Type B and Type C. The virus is most commonly spread through droplet transmission (through the air) but can also be contracted by touching a contaminated surface then touching your mouth or eyes. An infected person can spread the virus to others while they are sick.

Influenza is an infectious illness that can be spread from one individual to the next. It can be transmitted by means of saliva, nasal secretions, feces and blood. It can also be spread by coming in contact with the virus on contaminated surfaces. Influenza is responsible for an average of 36,000 deaths and for more than 226,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. (Davidson, 2007-2009, Davis, 2007).

Structure: The influenza virus looks like a sphere covered with spike like proteins for grip ready to latch on to a healthy human cell. “The H spike (hem agglutinin) and the N spike (neuraminidase) are called proteins and exist in the envelope and they are used for antigenic typing” (Pearson 2004). These proteins allow the virus to enter and exit the host (our cells). Once the virus is inside the cell, the virus can begin reproducing. Soon, each infected cell is filled with thousands of new viruses, each of them looking to leave the cell to find a new home in another cell and begin reproducing there.

There are there types of influenza A and C or the most severe types and B which is the most common, Luckily not the to severe. The virus works by first attaching to the outside of a host cell. It injects its RNA into the cell. Unfortunately our cells treat the RNA like they should. It translates the viral genes using the cell’s ribosomes and enzymes. Now the virus can take the cell over and use it to reproduce more viruses. Sooner or later it releases the new nauseating viruses and they search for another cell to raid.

The influenza is something that changes every year so it is suggested to get a influenza vaccine every year (“Influenza”). There are two main types of the influenza; each type has many different strains (“Influenza”). The Influenza can range in severity depending on many factors such as health, age, and the viral strain (“Influenza”). The symptoms for the influenza come on suddenly and consist of fever, chills, coughing, sore throat, achiness, headaches, and fatigue (“Influenza”). Diarrhea and vomiting can also occur, but these symptoms are more commonly found in children than adults (“Influenza”). The influenza is mostly transmitted through the air, coughing and sneezing (“Influenza”). It can take anywhere from a day to a week after

Influenza is a virus that is transmitted mainly via airborne process, which is one of the fastest mode of transmission. It is transmitted though airborne due to symptoms such as coughing and sneezing of the host (the infected). The host sneezes and coughs, influenza can easily be transmitted the agent via droplets and small microorganism, therefore entering the uninfected though the respiratory system (mouth and nasal) (WHO, 2016). Another way the virus can lead to pandemic, is due to the fact that the number of human and animals continue to grow and interact. Thus, the pandemic of influenza type A is possible. This mode of transmission is both and; the airborne (respiratory system) and physically (hand contamination). The customarily begins in rural areas (farms) as the virus can be found in hosts such as horses, pigs, chickens and birds. There has been an undetected interchange of the disease among animals and humans in rural environments which then eventually grows to become a global pandemic (Webster, RG & Monto, AS et al 2013, Textbook of influenza). The virus may continue to spread physically due to hand contamination in public; these may include door handles, public transport and other hand held hold objects. The last mode of transmission is genetically, this may then lead to asthma or even death (WHO,