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Influenza Research Paper

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Introduction: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses. This virus was first recorded by Hippocrates who wrote about a severe epidemic in 412 B.C.E written by Dr. Peter Moore in the book The Little Book of Pandemics. Influenza virus belongs to the family orthomyxoviridae and it’s considered a global virus. The Mayo Clinic clearly states, influenza (also known as the flu) is an infection of the respiratory system. The flu spreads by being in contact with someone who has the virus or by touching an object (less often). People are most contagious three to four days after being infected. Symptoms usually appear one to four days after the infection. The few …show more content…
Human influenza A and B cause the seasonal flu. (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6).

Background of Influenza: For Influenza there are many strains currently and many being discovered. According to the virology blog, the influenza virus is made up of the viral RNA wrapped in a lipid membrane, the membrane contains two main proteins the hemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N).The function of the hemagglutinin is to bind the virus to the cell receptors initiating an infection. The function the neuraminidase is to remove the sialic acid from the glycoproteins, sialic acid is on many cell surfaces to protect …show more content…
Currently, there are eighteen different hemagglutinin subtypes and eleven different neuraminidase subtypes for influenza strains. The virus has a constant evolution called antigenic drift which is seen in the 1957 Asian flu which was first identified in East Asia. The 1957 outbreak was caused by a virus known as influenza A subtype H2N2, this flu lead to one million to two million deaths worldwide. After 10years,the asian flu was replaced by a new influenza A subtype H3N2 which was called the Hong Kong pandemic of 1968. The strains found in people are usually H1N1 and H3N2 both influenza A subtype. Influenza B isn’t broken down into subtypes but into lineages and strains. Currently circulating is B/Yamagata and B/Victoria. Influenza C caused a mild respiratory illness and is not known to cause epidemics. A few complications of the flu is pneumonia, ear, and sinus infections. Also if you already have conditions such as heart failure, asthma, or diabetes, they may worsen. Influenza also can cause the pain in muscle resulting in the soreness of your joints. The following health problems may increase your risk of worsening if you get the flu lung disease, heart conditions, kidney, liver, nerve, and muscle conditions, blood disorders, and

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