Influenza Virus example essay topic

Influenza Influenza, normally called "the flu", the influenza virus causes an infection in the respiration tract. Even though the influenza virus can sometimes be compared with the common cold. It also can cause a more severe illness or death. During this past century, pandemics took place in 1918, 1957, and 1968, in all of these cases there where unfortunately many deaths.

The "Spanish flu" in 1918, killed approximately half a million people in the United States alone. It killed around 20 million worldwide. The "Asian flu" in 1957, in the United States their 70,000 people died. In 1968 the "Hong-Kong flu" There where 34,000 deaths in the United States. The emergence of the "Hong-Kong flu" marked the beginning of the of the strand type A (H 3 N 2) era Different strands of the same virus caused all these outbreaks of influenza. When this virus first emerged.

It was associated with fewer deaths than caused by the two previous pandemic viruses that I mentioned. There are a few reasons for the hem agglutinin changed from the "Asian flu" strain. The stayed the same. Well the only explanation would be that people affected with the A (H 2 N 2) strain ("Asian flu"), Built up immunity to the "Hong-Kong flu". The influenza virus depending on the severity usually includes: fever (around 100 F to 103 F), cough, sore throat, headache, stuffy and running nose, muscle soreness and fatigue. It also can include vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

You will usually recover completely in 1 to 2 weeks of contact with the virus, but it can lead to other complications for example, pneumonia. Most people perceive "the flu" to be a common (not a big deal) illness, but they overlook the 20,000 deaths and over 100,000 hospitalizations nationwide. 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.

Influenza fortunately can be prevented in most cases. You can prevent it through an annual vaccination. The vaccine is made up of 8 to 10 strains of the influenza virus. When you receive the vaccination the strains have been "killed", so there is no possible way for you to get this illness just by receiving the vaccination. Your body recognizes the unknown strains and builds up immunity so if a "live" virus gets in your system your body has the correct code to "kill" it off. Other then vaccination, some basic treatment is: stay at home, drink fluids, take anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin or ibuprofen), decongestants, cough medicine, gargles, lozenges, or await a natural treatment.

There has been some treatments developed that are not as common as the ones I just listed such as: (and tami flu). Many doctors don't recommend these drugs for what every there reasons may be. Your body deals with Influenza like it deals with any other virus. First there is always a barrier that protects against viruses getting into your system if this fails.

Then your body tries and destroys the viruses before it enters a cell and reproduces. If that also fails then you will have to wait for your immune system to catch-up and find a way to destroy the certain strain of influenza.