Influenza Flu Essay

Influenza is commonly known as the Flu. This is a very contagious viral infection that affects the upper respiratory organs like the throat, nose, bronchi and lungs. The virus can be transmitted easily from person to person by droplets in the air. This is produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or spits. Even within less than a meter with an infected person you can still get it. It can also be spread by touching a contaminated surface with the flu virus and touching the eyes or mouth. Influenza tends to spread fast in seasonal epidemics most often in the late fall, winter and early spring. This affects between 5-20% of the US population annually. Each year, there are more than 200,000 people that are hospitalize and 3,000-49000 death has happen from influenza.

These symptoms usually begin two days after exposure to the virus and will last for a week or two. Once infected, it can feel like you have a cold but the flu is much worst. In addition to a having a runny nose, you will have a cough, sore throat, stuffy nose and a high fever. Also fatigue, muscle pains, and headaches. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea but this is more common in children than adults. Influenza can affect any one at any age, but the highest risk for complications would be children younger than age 2 years, adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant women and people at any age with certain medical conditions or a weakened immune systems.

There are three types of seasonal influenza which are A (common infection to whales, chicken, ducks, pigs or human), B (common infection to human) and C (common infection to dog, pigs or human). Influenza A is a type of virus that infects birds in poultry and wild birds. The virus can be transmitted when a bird comes in contact with an infected bird. This can also be spread through surfaces that are contaminated with the virus or infected waterfowl. Once infected the virus affects the intestines, respiratory tract causing the birds to get sick and even kill certain domesticate bird including chickens, ducks and turkeys.

Swine Flu is also cause by type A influenza that cause outbreaks in pigs. The viruses can cause several illness and cause a few deaths in pigs. This is spread among pigs only mostly through close contact with the infected. Swine Flu virus do not normally infect humans but when can and that virus is called a variant virus. Throughout the year like most outbreak in human flu. Like influenza viruses in humans and other animals, the virus is constantly changing. Once the pig gets infected, they feel depress, comes down with a fever,