Influenza Flashcards
What are synonyms of influenza?
Flu, grippe
How is influenza spread?
By aerosols very efficiently
What is influenza?
An acute viral infection involving the respiratory tract
What is the incubation period of influenza?
1-3 days
How long does influenza last?
3-10 days
What does infection lead to?
Cell killing and local inflammatory responses
What happens after cell killing?
Chemokines and cytokines (macrophages) that cause the symptoms: fever, muscle ache, headache, prostration, anorexia. ‘Cytokine storm’
Is death from primary infection of influenza common?
Death from primary infection is rare.
Is death from secondary infection of influenza common?
Cell damage predisposes to secondary bacterial infections with deaths, especially in the elderly
What was the mortality rate of the Spanish flu?
Mortality rate was 2.5% compared to previous epidemics of 0.1% i.e. more than 20x higher
How many deaths were there due to the Spanish flu?
Mortality rate was 2.5% compared to previous epidemics of 0.1% i.e. more than 20x higher
How many deaths were there due to the Spanish flu?
> 40 million deaths (could have been up to 100 million?)
What was the 1918 pandemic virus caused from?
Virus genome sequenced from permafrost burials
Whats the originator of HA virus?
Birds
When were the genetic elements of the 1918 virus estimated to be circulating from?
1911
What is done to understand the pathology of pandemoc viruses?
Partial reconstruction used in animal experiments
What are the 3 distinct serotypes?
A type
B type
C type
What is the A type serotype?
Viruses infect mammals, including humans, horses, pigs, ferrets and birds. Cause epidemics and pandemics
What is the B and C type serotype?
B- and C-type viruses infect only humans & are not as severe as A types
(some evidence of B in horses, and C in dogs and pigs)