The Effects of the Influenza Virus Essay example -- Biology Medical Fl

Influenza The computer virus and its EffectsAbstractThe flu, properly called influenza, is an amazingly widespread and widely cognize disease. There are many a(prenominal) variations of the influenza virus, differing in severity, but non significantly different in function. The influenza virus infects epithelial cells in the respiratory tract, taking over the cells production mechanisms so more viruses are produced, eventually causing the host cells to burst. The bodys immune system tries to combat the infection from succeeding. This internal battle produces many outward symptoms including a fever and dry cough, among others. Influenza is not usually a fatal disease, but its high mutation rate insures its move import by allowing it to return in a different induce every year. The flu. Everyone from the oldest grandparent to the youngest child has heard of it. But what is the flu actually? initial of all, what is behind its name? Flu isnt actually the diseases correct name. Its true name, Influenza, is Italian for cast. Flu is an abridgment of this. People used to believe that influenza was caused by an unhealthy influence from the heavens, hence the name (WHO). The influenza virus is divided into three types, A, B and C. Influenza A is the most serious of the three. Influenza B is not as serious and less common, while influenza C is seldom noticed and only causes mild symptoms. Influenza A viruses are specify by their host of origin, geographic location of the first isolation, strain outlet and year of isolation. E.g. A/Swine/Iowa/15/30 (Wilschut 29). Influenza A viruses likewise have a classification determined by their type of Haemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. Haemagglutinin is undeniable for entrance int... ...v/gi/Archive/2005/Oct/24-394830.html.WHO. WHO Report on Global charge of Epidemic-prone Infectious Diseases, Chapter 7 World Health Organization. 2001. July 27 2007.WI Gov. Influenza -- superior general Information Wisconsin Government Department of Health & Family Services. January 31 2007. July 23 2007 Kilbourne, Edwin D. Influenza. new-fashioned York Plenum Medical Book Company, 1987.Stuart-Harris, Charles H., Schild, Geoffrey C., and Oxford, John S., Influenza The viruses and the disease. 2nd ed. Baltimore Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd, 1985.Wilschut, Jan C, PhD, Abraham M Palache, PhD, and Janet E McElhaney, MD, FRCPC, PACP, eds. Influenza. 2nd ed. Rapid Reference. Pennsylvania Elsevier Ltd., 2006.