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Hi my name is Vue
and I'm presenting my topic on the flu since the flu season just started. I
think it's very important to get vaccinated.
The flu is caused by a virus
There are three types of Influenza virus A, B, and C
Influenza A is the most virulent and it can cross species
and infect both humans and animals. Flu can start early as October and
last til May of each year
Some of the symptoms are high fever, encephalgia
fatigue, muscle aches
nausea and vomiting.
The virus is unique because it has 8 pieces of RNA strands
that hold its genetic material. It has these surface proteins on the outside that
look like spikes
The two most important are Hemmaglutin and Neuraminidase.
Hemmaglutin helps the virus attach to the host cell
and there are 16 types of these.
Neuraminidase will lyse the host cell to release the virus
and there are nine types of these. Combining these two will create a
a total of 144 different strains
There are two types of mutation.
One is called Antigenic Drift,
this process is a natural evolution
of the virus where the spikes are the same type but
they just look slightly different on the outside. As you can see each H1N1
has been around for almost a whole century
resurfacing because of this evolution
The other type is called Antigenic Shift
this occurs when the host is infected with two different strains
and recombination of the genes produces a strain that is new to the human and
animal population
This type of mutation doesn't happen as often
but it is the most lethal type of mutation. The pathogenesis of Influenza virus
usually starts by
inhaling the air droplets from an infected person or being around infected animals
The virus enters the trachea and bronchi
and reaches respiratory epithelial cells. Hemmaglutin spikes
were attached to the receptor sites on the cell membrane and tricks the cell to take
it inside the cell
via endocytosis. The virus will use the host cell's machinery
to replicate. When a new virus is ready to be released,
Neuraminidase will lyse the host cell. The virus becomes aerosolized and
spreads to the next
susceptible hosts when the infected person spreads respiratory secretions or
droplets
while they are talking, coughing, or sneezing. This called viral shedding
and a person will be contagious for the next 5 to 10 days
after the onset of symptoms.
The flu is transmitted by inhaling droplets
direct contact, and eating properly cooked meats
from the infected animal.
Treatment is rest and supportive care,
over-the-counter medicine like Tylenol and Ibuprofen
will help decrease body aches and encephalgia
It is very important to stay away from other people to stop the spread of
infection.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent contracting the flu
Vaccines usually have three to four different types are weakened strains so we
can't
infect a person. However, vaccination is not for everyone.
The virus has to be grown in a host so eggs are used to culture the virus.
People who have severe reactions to egg
products shouldn't take the vaccine and those who are very ill
or have lung or heart disease shouldn't use a vaccine.
Over 50 million people have died from the flu worldwide.
20 percent of Americans get infected each year.
Getting vaccinated will prevent infection
and illness.