Influenza

Question 1

What contributed to the higher mortality rates seen in influenza patients in the early 1900’s.

Answer 1

They thought ASA was helpful so they loaded patients up

Question 2

What was the huge downfall of the swine flu vaccine in the 1970’s?

Answer 2

There were multiple documented cases of GBS

Question 3

Influenza A infects who?

Answer 3

People and animals

Question 4

Which strain of influenza causes pandemics?

Answer 4

Influenza A

Question 5

Two surface proteins on influenza

Answer 5

• Hemagluttinin

* Neuraminidase

Question 6

Genetic material of influenza?

Answer 6

RNA

Question 7

How is influenza transmitted?

Answer 7

Large droplets (small droplets, which stay suspended in the air, is not sufficient)

Question 8

What are the symptoms of influenza?

Answer 8

• Fever
• HA
• Cough
• Sore throat (sometimes)
• NO N/V/D

Question 9

How long does it take to make a new flu vaccine?

Answer 9

9 months

Question 10

How does influenza typically kill people?

Answer 10

Secondary infections such as bacterial pneumonia (staph and strep)
• Myositis and rhabdomyolysis 
• MI
• Encephalitis
• Reye's syndrome

Question 11

What is unique about the bird flu H5N1?

Answer 11

• Affects primarily young people
• Very high mortality rate – 60%
• Usually die 2° respiratory illness, but sometimes diarrhea
• Very little person to person transmission

Question 12

What do they grow flu vaccine in?

Answer 12

Eggs

Question 13

Why is the ELISA flu test (rapid antigen test) not the best flu test?

Answer 13

60% sensitive

Question 14

What is the gold standard for flu diagnosis?

Answer 14

• Viral culture (but takes days)

* Reverse transcriptase-PCR is a better test than antigen test and faster than viral culture

Question 15

What two influenza drugs are used today?

Answer 15

• Oseltamivir (tamiflu)
• Zanamivir
• Reduce symptoms 1-2 days

Question 16

Who is influenza vaccine most effective in?

Answer 16

Children, which is good because they spread the virus the most

Question 17

How are influenza A outbreaks named?

Answer 17

• Where they are identified
• Lineage number
• Year isolated

Question 18

Why does influenza have a high mutation rate?

Answer 18

Because they are RNA viruses? Change their sequence of H1 and N1 proteins from year to year in a process called antigenic drift.

Question 19

What is unique about each gene of influenza?

Answer 19

It’s located on a separate strain of RNA

Question 20

How can influenza viruses easily gain new genes?

Answer 20

When the virus envelope is formed, gene segments from different viruses that have infected the same cell can be incorporated into the virus

Question 21

When a virus acquires a NEW hemagglutinin or neuraminidase what is this process called?

Answer 21

Antigenic shift

Question 22

Where did influenza come from (which animal)?

Answer 22

Duck

Question 23

What strain of influenza was found in Indiana in 12-13?

Answer 23

H3N2 (people in close contact with pigs)

Question 24

Why do we need new flu vaccines every year (shift or drift)?

Answer 24

Drift

Question 25

Who can be given the live attenuated version of the flu vaccine?

Answer 25

People < 50 (but it’s increased protection is unproven)