...lll7-60 26 Sept. 2015 The Influenza Virus We all know that time of year. The time of year when the cold of winter ascends upon us as well as a very common illness known as the flu. Everyone has had this illness at least once in their life, whether they were too young to remember it or if it was just last week. The influenza virus is one of the most common viruses as well as one of the deadliest. People don’t really think about the flu as deadly, but thirty-six thousand people die from the flu each year in the U.S alone. There are also more than two hundred thousand people that are hospitalized because of the flu. The influenza virus is one of the most complicated and unpredictable viruses there is. The Influenza virus can be broken down into three categories. The first category is Influenza type A. Wild aquatic birds such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls, shorebirds, and terns are the natural hosts for all influenza type A viruses. Most people refer to this type of flu virus as the Avian Flu. This type of flu can further be broken down into two different subtypes based on the proteins on the surface of the virus. These subtypes are hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). There are eighteen known HA types and eleven NA types. There are many different combinations of the two subtypes. All known types of type A can effect birds except two different types, H17N10 and H18N11, which have only been found in bats. Only two influenza A virus types are currently circulating...
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...OF ORGANISM Influenza is one of the most deadly viruses dating back to 1510 causing pandemics and endemic outbreaks all the way through 2013. The classifications of the influenza strains are known as A, B, and C with different subtypes HA and NA. Influenza A virions have close to 500 HA and NA spikes sticking out of the lipid bilayer characterized by 4 main proteins HA, NA, M2 and M1. Influenza type B has quite a few similarities to type A, but encodes proteins differently in the NB and MB2 protein membrane where type C differentiates where the ion channel is CM2, and instead of having two different glycoproteins type C has a multifunctional glycoprotein HA-esterase fusion. The influenza viruses usually have a spherical shape with...
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...The influenza virus, as stated by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services (2004), is a severe communicable respiratory disease that has three alternate types as well as a variety of strains, where common symptoms across the board include fever, headache, muscle pain, lethargy, nasal congestion, sore throat and cough. Other symptoms, particularly in children, may also include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. These symptoms when severe can lead to potential death. Contributing to its communicability are the reservoirs of the virus. Primarily, influenza is known to be harboured in humans, making them the primary reservoir. However, recent research has evoked suspicion of animals also having the ability to act as a reservoir for new arising influenza strains. This of which is assumed to occur when humans and animals live in close proximity to each other resulting in increased interspecies contact. Furthermore, the influenza virus is in general transmitted from person to person through direct contact with respiratory aerosols and secretions from an...
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...Classification Influenza virus are credited as major respiratory pathogens. Influenza viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae which consists of five genera: Influenza virus A, Influenza virus B, Influenza virus c, Thogotovirus, and Isavirus. Annual epidemics are usually caused by influenza A and B viruses, however generally influenza A has asymptomatic infections even .The general classifications of influenza A include 16 HA subtype (H1-16) and nine NA subtypes (N1-9) the classification is generally done based on haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins which are responsible for the antigenic properties of the virus The circulation of influenza A subtypes such as H1N1, H3N2, H2N2, and H1N2 have been observed in the past century...
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...There are many viruses that has made a huge impact on humans over the course of time, but one of the common virus that was well known in the 1800s was the 1918 Influenza virus. The Influenza Virus of 1918 was a very serious and dreadful virus that is often called the “Global Disaster.” This virus had made a lot of adults and children get very ill or sick and often leading to death. The Influenza virus was most current during the Great War in Europe of the year 1918. The Influenza Virus of 1918 was a very serious and dreadful virus, and is one of the most dangerous virus out during the time of 1918 (Virus.Stanford.edu.) Influenza Virus of 1918, was a big kill threat to elderly people ( 65 likely to die ) and very young children about the age of ( 1 year or younger...and often times older, ) but the flu was most commonly a threat of ages 15 to 65. The Great War of 1918, was a time when the Americans were finally going to war against Germans to win ( Virus.Stanford.edu.) This was also a time were the Americans were in trenches with the worst conditions and viruses developed all throughout...
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...• ^ International Committee on onomy of Viruses. "The Universal Virus Database, version 4: Influenza A". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/00.046.0.01.htm. [dead link] 1. ^ a b c d e f "Swine influenza". The Merck Veterinary Manual. 2008. ISBN 1442167424. http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/121407.htm. Retrieved April 30, 2009. 2. ^ [1][dead link] 3. ^ Heinen PP (15 September 2003). "Swine influenza: a zoonosis". Veterinary Sciences Tomorrow. ISSN 1569-0830. http://www.vetscite.org/publish/articles/000041/print.html. "Influenza B and C viruses are almost exclusively isolated from man, although influenza C virus has also been isolated from pigs and influenza B has recently been isolated from seals." 4. ^ Bouvier NM, Palese P (September 2008). "THE BIOLOGY OF INFLUENZA VIRUSES". Vaccine 26 Suppl 4 (Suppl 4): D49–53. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.039. PMC 3074182. PMID 19230160. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=3074182. 5. ^ Kimura H, Abiko C, Peng G et al. (April 1997). "Interspecies transmission of influenza C virus between humans and pigs". Virus Research 48 (1): 71–9. doi:10.1016/S0168-1702(96)01427-X. PMID 9140195. 6. ^ a b Matsuzaki Y, Sugawara K, Mizuta K et al. (February 2002). "Antigenic and Genetic Characterization of Influenza C Viruses Which Caused Two Outbreaks in Yamagata City, Japan, in 1996 and 1998". Journal of Clinical Microbiology 40 (2): 422–9. doi:10.1128/JCM.40.2.422-429...
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...Expository Essay - Influenza Vaccine Wendy G. Hill COM150 May 15, 2011 Susan Dietrich Expository Essay - Influenza Vaccine The Influenza virus can infect any age group of people. The influenza infection rate is the highest among children between the ages of one and three. According to the CDC from October, 2010 to the present there have been 91 deaths among pediatrics in the United States. The yearly influenza vaccine may have a few minor side effects for some individuals, but it still has many benefits for everyone. In order for people to decide whether the influenza vaccine is right for them or their families, they need to know some of the basics about influenza viruses. Influenza viruses are spread by having contact with someone or something that has the influenza virus. When a person has a confirmed case of the influenza virus, the individual can spread the virus to others by not covering when he or she coughs or sneezes and by not washing his or her hands and keeping containers or tissues around that may contain vomit, sputum or nose secretions (Center for Disease Control, 2010, Oct.). The four types of vaccines available to any individual who would want to obtain the vaccine for preventive measures. The first one is, Whole virion inactivated vaccine, and this has complete viruses which are not alive. This one is not infectious and once injected keeps their antigenic properties. The second one, Subunit inactivated vaccine; this is made up of surface antigens...
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...Course: Date: Epidemiology Paper Influenza or simply flu is one of the most devastating communicable diseases. This is because it is transmitted through the air we breathe. This simply means that being in the company of a mammal or bird that is infected is more than good enough reason for one to get infected (Naff, 2011). Influenza is caused by an influenza virus which can be of one of three types. Type A and B results to a high degree of infections. These two types are responsible for severe respiratory infections and in some cases death. Influenza virus type C on the other hand does not lead to severe respiratory infection and only causes minimal respiratory infections with little or no symptoms at all. The influenza virus is capable of modifying itself once in the body of the host. This occurs through mutation whereby vaccinations and treatment develop antibodies that go against the virus. Naff (2011) explains that this causes the virus to adjust for its survival and as a result develop into a new form that the antibodies do not see as harmful. The virus therefore has the capability of infecting a host at any time. However, it is possible for initial antibodies to recognize the mutated virus as a harmful component thereby limiting the degree of infection. In the epidemic involving the H1N1 virus in 2009, very few individuals had antibodies that could fight the virus. The flu has a number of symptoms which are muscle pains, running nose...
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...Epidemiology by definition is the study of the distribution and patterns of health-events, health- characteristics and their causes or influences in well-defined populations. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive medicine. Epidemiologists are involved in the design of studies, collection and statistical analysis of data, and interpretation and dissemination of results (including peer review and occasional systematic review).Major areas of epidemiological study include outbreak investigation, disease surveillance and biomonitoring, and comparisons of treatment effects such as in clinical trials. Epidemiologists rely on a number of other scientific disciplines such as biology (to better understand disease processes), biostatistics (to make efficient use of the data and draw appropriate conclusions), and exposure assessment and social science disciplines (to better understand proximate and distal risk factors, and their measurement). I would like to discuss elderly patients as my vulnerable population. There is no set age at which a person maybe under the care of a geriatric physician. The physician aims to promote health by preventing disease and disabilities in geriatric adults. A gerontologist specializes in the aging process. Adult medicine differs from the geriatric patient because the focus is on the elderly...
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...Epidemiology of Influenza Bethany Baird Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V September 19, 2014 Epidemiology of Influenza Influenza is an illness that is seen and addressed on a yearly basis. Each year, come fall, individuals line up a their local clinic or physician’s office to acquire the influenza vaccine in an attempt to ward off the seasonal virus known as the flu. “The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs (American Lung Association, n.d.).” There are 3 main strains of the seasonal influenza virus that break off into further subcategories. This virus can affect people of all ages and demographics. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the flu affects over 60 million people every year in the United States alone . While during “flu season” there are a number of illnesses that are prevalent, influenza has identifiable signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms associated with the flu are often very recognizable but also may vary in their severity. One of the most prominent symptoms is a sudden onset of fever and feverish chills accompanied by body and joint aches. This could be referred to as the “cardinal sign” of the flu (American Lung Association, n.d.). Other symptoms include cough, sore throat, headaches, and runny nose. These symptoms can be associated with the common cold, however, when coupled with fever and body aches, there is...
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...Definition The word “novel” was chosen by the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) to distinguish the outbreak of H1N1 virus in 2009 from the rest of the of the H1N1 viruses, because this virus caused a pandemic and was a new virus that many humans did not have any immunity built up for. Novel is being used as an adjective and means new, unique, different, unusual and different. All of these meanings fit for the use of the word novel in this case (2009 H1N1 Flu, 1). The novel influenza virus that circulated in the U.S. and other parts of the world is a unique combination of swine and human influenza viruses. This virus is transmitted from person to person, not from pigs to humans (CDC website). The novel influenza A H1N1 spreads just like the seasonal flu. Flu viruses spread from a person sneezing or coughing who has contracted the virus. It is also possible to become affected by touching something that has the flu virus on it (Such as a door knob, toilet handle) and then touching your mouth or nose. People who have contracted a flu virus have the potential to be contagious as long as they have symptoms and possibly up to seven days after they have become ill. Children, especially young children can be contagious for longer than seven days (H1N1 Fact Sheet, 1). Some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing or using an alcohol based hand gel will help you reduce the chances of becoming ill after touching...
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...The high risk groups are the ones most likely to end up hospitalized or to ultimately die from influenza. Yearly worldwide flu epidemics can be as high as three to five million severe cases or illness and death rate as high as five hundred thousand. The influenza Virus is transmitted easily, and spreads quickly in large groups (schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and dorms) When a person with influenza sneezes or coughs the droplets (that contains the virus) are now airborn anyone who breathes this in can be infected. The influenza virus is easily spread, so those hands that have been contaminated with the flu virus can spread from person to person quickly. Preventing transmission is key, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue whenever sneezing or coughing and wash hands with hot soapy water regularly. The best way to prevent influenza is to receive the vaccine. Those healthy adults vaccinated will be protected even if virus is...
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...Influenza July 20, 2014 Introduction Influenza also known as “Flu” is a contagious disease that affects mammals and birds. It is a viral disease that is caused by influenza viruses of the family orthomyxoviridae, which affects the lungs, throat, nose and other parts of the respiratory system. Most people tend to confuse influenza with common cold, stomach flu and other flu like illnesses, but influenza is a viral and deadly disease that is characterized with muscle pains, headache, runny nose, sore throat, high fever, colds, fatigue, nasal congestion, dry cough, vomiting and nausea. Different people may exhibit symptoms and signs of influenza differently, but most children tend to vomit and experience nausea when infected with the virus. Although influenza affects people of all ages, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses and low body immunity and the aged are at a high risk of developing influenza and suffering from its complications. In most cases, children and old people affected with influenza tend to develop and suffer from other risk complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, and other respiratory illnesses (Emmanuel, 2009). Pneumonia is a common complication that develops when the disease is not identified and treated on time thus leading to viral or bacterial pneumonia. Like other infectious diseases, influenza is a viral disease that is transmitted from one person to another through air. In essence...
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...The article that was chosen was Swine Influenza (H1N1 FLU). Swine flu is defined as an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza viruses (Raut, Gharge, Salve, & Habale, 2009). It consists of any strain of the influenza family that is endemic in pigs. The article discussed the classification of the viruses, the history, signs and symptoms, prevention, and treatment of the virus. As of 2009, the Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) included influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A also known by the following names: H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. Treatment The treatment for the swine flu has to first be determined by the strain that you have and if it is for humans or pigs. There are three genera of the virus and two out of the three cause influenza in pigs. The strains in influenza A and C that affect both pigs and humans are largely distinct, however, due to reassortment of the virus transfers of genes among the strains crossing swine, avian, and human species [ (Raut, Gharge, Salve, & Habale, 2009) ]. For you to go get treated you have to know what signs and symptoms to look for. In the pig, you would need to look for fever, lethargy¸ sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, and decreased appetite. If a pig is pregnant in some cases, it can also cause abortion. In humans, the symptoms are similar to those of regular seasonal human influenza. The symptoms include coughing, headache, body ache, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, runny nose, and fever...
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...flu) pandemic. The estimated transmissibility of the current virus is also not far from the norm. Depending on the methodology used, the calculated basic reproduction number (R0; the number of secondary infections produced by a single infected individual) is 1.2-1.6. This number is similar to that seen with seasonal influenza, while comparable estimates of R0 for the 1918, 1957, and 1968 pandemics ranged from 1.4-2.0. The WHO, however, suggests that there may be a much higher secondary attack rate. ■ COMMENTARY 2. 3. 4. 5. Government Pandemic Influenza Site: http://www.PandemicFlu.gov/ U.S. Government Pandemic Influenza Site: http://www.PandemicFlu.gov/ World Health Organization http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html Human/Swine A/H1N1 Influenza Origins and Evolution (Wiki) http://tree.bio.ed.ac.uk/groups/influenza/ http://www.thelancet.com/H1N1-flu The recognition that the initial perception of a high mortality rate was apparently spurious has led to some relaxation of concern. This may, however, be premature. While we have completed the usual influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere, the season is just beginning in the southern latitudes. Furthermore, previous pandemics have come in waves, with the second or third wave sometimes being associated with more severe disease than the original portion of the epidemic. While this was not true of the 1968 pandemic, it was true in 1957-1959 and, especially, in 1918. In fact, concern has been raised about...
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