This is caused by a influenza virus which is a RNA virus that are seen in humans

Orthomyxoviruses are a grouping of viruses where a few make up the terminiology “The Flu”

1.) Influenza A Virus
- Found in humans
- Typically the cause virus for pandemic deaths

2.) Influenza B Virus

- Affects humans and seals
- Usually does not cause a pandemics

3.) Influenza C Virus

- Rare when compared to A & B
- Can be severe and is seen in epidemics
- Vaccines are not done against type C

4.) Isavirus

- Is a viral disease of Atlantic Salmon
- Does not cause human flu

5.) Thogotovirus

- Is found in ticks in Europe and Africa
- Does not cause human flu
- Can cause sickness and encephalitis in humans though

Catagories

1.) Epidemics

- Occurs when new cases of a disease are seen in a population
- The strains are often slightly different than the previous year
- Regarding the flu – occurs every year
- Death still occurs – but not as widespread and severe as Pandemic

2.) Pandemic

- This is a defination of a flu virus strain that affects a large portion of the human population
- Is is seen throughout the world
- The most serious in recent history occured in 1918
- Many people die as a result of the virus
- In 1918 over 50 million people were killed as a result of the virus

Vaccinations:

The yearly vaccine typically has antibodies and surface glycoproteins from a combination
of the strains of these viruses
- is referred to as the trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV)
- it carries no risk of transmitting the disease
- a vaccine for one year willl often not protect you the following year
- some people become sick following their injection but it is not “from the injection”

Symptoms:

- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Cough
- Congestion
- Sore Throat
- Night sweats
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle pains
- Dyspnea
- Shortness of breath
- Can lead to pneumonia

Results

- Every year approximately 36,000 deaths are attributed to the flu
- Almost ten times that amount are hospitalized

Subtypes

- Each set of viruses also has additional subtypes
- Subtypes refer to slight differences in structure or genome

Influenza A

- H1N1 – Caused Spanish Flu and also similar to Swine flu of 2009
- H2N2 – Asian Flu
- H3N2 – Hong Kong Flu
- H5N1 – Bird Flu
- H7N7, H1N2, H9N2, H7N3 and others

Influenza B

- Has several strains

Influenza C

- Has several strains

Other Flu

- Avian Flu
- Dog Flu
- Swine Flu
- Horse Flu

Concerns

- Changes or mutations of viruses can cause a virus that is typically seen in an
animal that may start to affect humans

Examples include:

- Avian Flu – 1999, 2003
- Spanish Flu – Swine Flu – 1918, 2009
- Asian Flu – Avian Flu – 1957-1958
- Hong Kong Flu – Swine Flu – 1968 – 1969

Prevention

- Limit touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Cover mouth when sneezing
- Wash hands often
- Influenza vaccination
- Limit contact to those who are sic
- If you become sick – limit your contact with others

Treatment

- Influenza is a virus and antibiotics won’t help
- Treat symptoms
- Plenty of sleep
- Increase fluid consumption

Medications

- Cough Syrup
- Tylenol for fever
. Amantadine [Symmetrel] – for influenza Type A
. Rimantadine [Flumadine] – for influenza Type B

When to go to see a medical profession or the Hospital

- Guidelines often vary
- When having an extreme temperature 104 or above
- Temperature of 102 for 3 plus days
- Becomes increasingly difficult to breath
- When dehydration is worse