Influenza

Alec Fleischacker

Influenza is an infectious disease of birds and mammals

Influenza is transmitted via aerosols when people cough or sneeze

Symptoms include chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue, and general discomfort

• Ways to prevent getting influenza– Hand washing with soap, which deactivates the

virus– Covering coughs and sneezes– Avoid contact with infected people

Influenza is caused by an orthomyxoviridae RNA Virus

Influenzavirus A is responsible for most common types of the flu

Flu Pandemics occur when a new strain is transmitted to humans

from a different mammal

Influenzavirus B and C are less common than Influenzavirus A

There is a new strain of influenza every winter because it mutates

very quickly

Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing influenza

The World Health Organization attempts to predict which strains will emerge each year

One of the best treatment for the flu is to get plenty of rest

The two types of antivirals used are M2 protein inhibitors and

Neuraminidase inhibitors

Neuraminidase Inhibitors are preferred to M2 Inhibitors

M2 Inhibitors block the ion protein that allows the M2 protein from going into

the proton

Works Citedhttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/influenza/DS00081http://www.who.int/topics/influenza/en/http://www.wvdhhr.org/wvflu/symptoms_spreads.asphttp://emedicine.medscape.com/article/219557-overviewhttp://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/cellular-microscopic/flu.htmhttp://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct05/avianflu.thevirus.ws.htmlhttp://www.livestrong.com/article/90289-influenza-virus-works/