Recent Strains and Symptoms of Influenza
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Influenza A
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Influenza A is the most common virus and affects humans during the cold winter months. Influenza A is a broad term for the many subtypes and strains of the virus that have mutated over the years. Each mutation has specific H (hemagglutinin) and N (neuraminidase) proteins. When we are infected by these specific proteins our bodies develop antibodies to combat future infections of the virus. As the Influenza A virus moves from person to person across the globe, its RNA slightly changes, making the virus unique, so that antibodies are no longer effective in treating the virus. This is why flu shots are changed each year. The CDC (Center for Disease Control).looks at the current trends in the virus, and then makes a vaccine accordingly. Symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.
Influenza B
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The influenza B virus is a separate strain that does not mutate as often as Influenza A. Since its mutations are few, most older adults have already had and built immunities to the virus. The largest section of the population that is affected by this strain are children. This is because they have yet to be exposed enough to the virus to build antibodies against it. Flu shots already automatically help defend against the influenza B virus. Symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches.
Influenza C
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Influenza C is a rare strain of the influenza virus and tends to only cause small local epidemics. However, the symptoms associated with the C virus are more serious than A or B. Influenza C tends to infect children more than adults and is very hard to detect. Only labs with specific equipment have the ability to isolate a culture for a C infection, making it extremely hard to diagnose. Getting a flu vaccination will not protect you against an influenza C infection. Symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.
Bird Flu
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Since November 2003 only 400 people have been infected by this mutation of the Influenza A virus (reports the Center for Disease Control). The bird flu strain of the virus is most commonly spread though poultry, but can spread to humans through direct contact with the animals. Once infected the virus can cause permanent damage to the respiratory system or even death. Most bird flu outbreaks are contained by killing and incinerating the infected birds (sometimes numbering in the millions) and isolating the humans infected. The bird flu virus has had very little impact in the United States, but has been found in much of the UK and in large sections of Asia. Symptoms are runny nose, eye infection, respiratory complications, pneumonia, viral pneumonia, vomiting, nausea, sore throat, fever and coughing.
Pandemic Influenza
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Pandemic influenza is of uppermost concern to health agencies. A pandemic strain of the influenza virus is more of a prediction for the future than a current strain of the virus. Because the flu virus is able to mutate so easily as it changes its RNA structure from host to host, many agencies fear that a flu virus will develop that that will be completely immune to all treatment and flu shots. Though the influenza virus is usually quite mild, a strong infection of a mutated strain such as the bird flu may have the ability to wipe out entire populations. Pandemic flu strains have been seen in the past and are a real threat for the future. The influenza virus in pandemic form has killed over 675,000 people in the United States since 1900. From a world perspective the pandemic death toll has topped 50 million since 1900.
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