Negatively stained flu virions. These were the causative agent of the Hong Kong Flu pandemic.

Influenza (or as it is commonly known, the flu or the grippe) is a contagious disease of the upper airways and the lungs, caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family. It rapidly spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics, imposing considerable economic burden, in the form of health care costs and lost productivity. Three influenza pandemics in the 20^th century, each following a major genetic change in the virus, killed millions of people all over the world. The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable Influenza virus. ... Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... The transmission and infection of H5N1 is a concern due to the global spread of H5N1 that constitutes a pandemic threat. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus The Orthomyxoviridae are a family of RNA viruses which infect vertebrates. ... Influenza Virus photo from http://www. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. ... The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ... An RNA virus is a virus that either uses RNA as its genetic material, or whose genetic material passes through an RNA intermediate during replication. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus The Orthomyxoviridae are a family of RNA viruses which infect vertebrates. ... An epidemic is generally a widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population. ... This article is about outbreaks of disease. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A virus is a submicroscopic parasite that infects cells in biological organisms. ...

The term influenza has its origins in 15th century Italy, where the cause of the disease was ascribed to unfavorable astrological influences. Evolution in medical thought led to its modification to "influenza di freddo" (meaning "influence of the cold"), which by the 18th century became the prevalent terminology in the English-speaking world as well. A Western astrological chart (or horoscope) - Y2K Chart — This particular chart is calculated for January 1, 2000 at 12:01:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA. (Longitude: 074W0023 - Latitude: 40N4251), using the tropical zodiac Example of a Western natal chart Astrology...

History

There were several serious outbreaks of influenza in the 20th century. The most famous (and the most lethal) was the so-called Spanish Flu pandemic (type A influenza, H1N1 strain), which lasted from 1918 to 1919, and is believed to have killed more people in total than World War I. While the war casualties accumulated over several years, the pandemic took most of its toll over a period of weeks. Lesser flu epidemics included the 1957 Asian Flu (type A, H2N2 strain) and the 1968 Hong Kong Flu (type A, H3N2 strain). An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... The Spanish Flu Pandemic, also known as La Grippe, or La Pesadilla, was an unusually severe and deadly strain of avian influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918 and 1919 [1]. It is thought to have... A pandemic, or global epidemic, is an outbreak of an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area (from Greek pan all + demos people). ... Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu (influenza) due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. ... The Spanish Flu Pandemic, also known as the Great Influenza Pandemic, the 1918 Flu Epidemic and La Grippe, was an unusually severe and deadly strain of avian influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 25 million to 50 million people worldwide in 1918 and 1919. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Entente Powers Central Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties > 5 million military deaths > 3 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War I, also known as the First World War and (before 1939) the Great War, the War of the Nations, War to End All Wars was a world... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Avian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ...

Known epidemics and pandemics - overview

• 1889-90 - Asiatic Flu, mortality rate said to be 0.75-1 death per 1000 (pandemic)
• 1918–20 – Spanish Flu, 500 million ill, at least 40 million died (pandemic)
• 1957–58 – Asian Flu, 1 to 1.5 million died (epidemic)
• 1968–69 – Hong Kong Flu, 3/4 to 1 million died (epidemic)

Although there were scares in New Jersey in 1976 (the Swine Flu), worldwide in 1977 (the Russian Flu), and in Hong Kong (as well as in other Asian countries, namely continental China, as became known later) in 1997 (Avian influenza), there have been no major pandemics subsequent to the 1968 infection. Increased immunity from antibodies, and the development of flu vaccines have limited the spread of the virus, and so far prevented any further pandemics. 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... A pandemic, or global epidemic, is an outbreak of an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area (from Greek pan all + demos people). ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... The Spanish Flu Pandemic, also known as La Grippe, or La Pesadilla, was an unusually severe and deadly strain of avian influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918 and 1919 [1]. It is thought to have... A pandemic, or global epidemic, is an outbreak of an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area (from Greek pan all + demos people). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Avian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... In epidemiology, an epidemic (from Greek epi- upon + demos people) is a disease that appears as new cases in a given human population, during a given period, at a rate that substantially exceeds what is expected, based on recent experience (the number of new cases in the population during a... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... In epidemiology, an epidemic (from Greek epi- upon + demos people) is a disease that appears as new cases in a given human population, during a given period, at a rate that substantially exceeds what is expected, based on recent experience (the number of new cases in the population during a... Official language(s) None defined, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 47th 22,608 km² 110 km 240 km 14. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Swine Flu is a form of Type A influenza that is normally virulent only in pigs. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu (influenza) due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. ... Schematic of antibody binding to an antigen An antibody is a protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. ... The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable Influenza virus. ...

Symptoms

The virus attacks the respiratory tract, is transmitted from person to person by saliva droplets expelled by coughing, and causes the following symptoms: To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The term symptom (from the Greek syn = con/plus and pipto = fall, together meaning co-exist) has two similar meanings in the context of physical and mental health: A symptom can be a physical condition which shows that one has a particular illness or disorder (see e. ...

• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue/Sore joints (can be extreme)
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Sneezing
• Irritated eyes
• Body aches
• Extreme coldness

Influenza's effects are much more severe than those of the "cold", and last longer. Recovery takes about one to two weeks. Influenza can be deadly, especially for the weak, old or chronically ill. Some flu pandemics have killed millions of people. See Fever for the Kylie Minogue album; Fever is also a song by Otis Blackwell. ... A headache (medically known as cephalgia) is a condition of mild to severe pain in the head; sometimes upper back or neck pain may also be interpreted as a headache. ... Human nose in profile The Nose is a story by Gogol and an opera by Dmitri Shostakovich. ... A sneeze is the semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the nose. ... The common cold (also known as acute nasopharyngitis) is a mild viral infectious disease of the nose and throat; the upper respiratory system. ... A pandemic, or global epidemic, is an outbreak of an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area (from Greek pan all + demos people). ...

Most people who get influenza will recover in one to two weeks, but others will develop life-threatening complications (such as pneumonia). Millions of people in the United States (about 10% to 20% of U.S. residents) are infected with influenza each year. An average of about 36,000 people per year in the United States die from influenza, and 114,000 per year are admitted to a hospital as a result of influenza. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, between 250,000 and 500,000 die from influenza infection each year worldwide. Even healthy people can be affected, and serious problems from influenza can happen at any age. People age 65 years and older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions, and very young children are more likely to get complications from influenza. Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus, and ear infections are four examples of such complications. Pneumonia is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the microscopic, air-filled sacs (alveoli) responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere become inflamed and flooded with fluid. ... WHO emblem The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Pneumonia is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the microscopic, air-filled sacs (alveoli) responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere become inflamed and flooded with fluid. ... Bronchitis is an obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs. ... A sinus is a pouch or cavity in any organ or tissue, or an abnormal cavity or passage caused by the destruction of tissue. ... Otitis media (also known as glue ear) is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually associated with a buildup of fluid. ...

The flu can make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart failure may have a worsening of this condition, that is triggered by the flu. Congestive heart failure (CHF) (also called congestive cardiac failure and heart failure) is the inability of the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body, or requiring elevated filling pressures in order to pump effectively. ...

Flu season

Influenza reaches peak prevalence in winter, and because the Northern and Southern Hemisphere have winter at different times of the year, there are actually two flu seasons each year. Therefore, the World Health Organization (assisted by the National Influenza Centers) makes two vaccine formulations every year; one for the Northern, and one for the Southern Hemisphere. In many parts of the world, winter is associated with snow. ... Northern Hemisphere highlighted in yellow. ... Southern Hemisphere The Southern Hemisphere is the half of a planets surface (or celestial sphere) that is south of the equator (the word hemisphere literally means half ball). On Earth it contains four continents (part of Africa, Oceania, most of South America, and Antarctica) and four oceans (South Atlantic... WHO emblem The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... National Influenza Centers (also called National Influenza Centres) are institutions which are formally recognized as such by WHO. Among the more than 110 National Influenza Centers are the WHO collaborating centres and reference laboratories that are involved in annual influenza vaccine composition recommendations. ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to produce active immunity to a disease, in order to prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by any natural or wild strain of the organism. ...

While most influenza outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere tend to peak in January or February, not all do. For example, the influenza pandemic of 1918 and 1919 reached peak virulence during late spring and summer worldwide, and not until October in the US. It remains unclear why outbreaks of the flu occur seasonally rather than uniformly throughout the year. The Spanish Flu Pandemic, also known as La Grippe, or La Pesadilla, was an unusually severe and deadly strain of avian influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918 and 1919 [1]. It is thought to have...

One possible explanation is that, because people are indoors more often during the winter, they are in close contact more often, and this promotes transmission from person to person. Another is that cold temperatures lead to drier air, which may dehydrate mucus, preventing the body from effectively expelling virus particles. The virus may also linger longer on exposed surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, etc.) in colder temperatures. Increased travel and visitation due to the holiday season may also play a role. [1]

Prevention

It is possible and in many cases recommended to get vaccinated against influenza with a flu vaccine. However, due to the high mutability of the virus, a particular flu vaccine formulation usually only works for about a year. The World Health Organization co-ordinates the contents of the vaccine each year, to contain the most likely strains of the virus which probably will attack the next year. The flu vaccine is usually recommended for anyone in a high-risk group, who would be likely to suffer complications from influenza. Flu vaccine is available as nasal spray vaccine (recommended for all healthy people ages 5 to 49) and as injectable vaccine. The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable Influenza virus. ... WHO emblem The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Nasal sprays are used for the nasal delivery of a drug or drugs, generally to alleviate cold or allergy symptoms. ...

It is possible to get vaccinated for the season and still catch the flu. The vaccine is reformulated each season for a few specific flu strains, but cannot possibly include all the different strains actively infecting people in the world for that season. This means that you could catch a virus not covered by the vaccine. Also, it takes ~6 months for the manufacturers to formulate and make the millions of doses required to deal with the seasonal epidemics; occasionally a new or overlooked strain becomes prominent during that six months and infects people even though they've been vaccinated (as in the 2003-2004 season). The vaccine may have partial coverage for these unexpected strains. It is also possible to get infected and then get vaccinated the next day, before flu symptoms appear, and still get sick with the very strain that the vaccine is supposed to prevent. The vacine can take a few days to work its magic.

Vaccines can cause the immune system to react as if the body were actually being infected, and general infection symptoms (many cold and flu symptoms are just general infection symptoms) can appear, though these symptoms are usually not as severe or as long lasting as the flu.

"The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. The risk of a flu shot causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, may rarely cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. Almost all people who get influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it." [2]

Treatment

If you get the flu, get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. You can take medications such as acetaminophen to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should avoid taking aspirin as taking aspirin in the presence of influenza infection (especially influenza type B) can lead to Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease of the liver. [3] Acetaminophen (USAN) or paracetamol (INN), is a popular analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. ... Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid is a drug in the family of salicylates, often used as an analgesic (against minor pains and aches), antipyretic (against fever), and anti-inflammatory. ... Influenzavirus B is a genus in the virus family Orthomyxoviridae. ... Reyes syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that causes numerous detrimental effects to many organs, especially the brain and liver. ... The liver is one of the largest internal organs of the human body. ...

During the 2005-2006 flu season in the United States, CDC encourages the use of oseltamivir for flu prevention and the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for flu treatment. [4] 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... California Department of Corrections Canadian Dairy Commission Career Development Course Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Child Development Center Citizens Development Corps Climate Diagnostics Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce Control Data Corporation Council for Disabled Children Connected Device Configuration... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Zanamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment of and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B. Zanamivir was the first neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. ...

The CDC says: California Department of Corrections Canadian Dairy Commission Career Development Course Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Child Development Center Citizens Development Corps Climate Diagnostics Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce Control Data Corporation Council for Disabled Children Connected Device Configuration...

Three antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir) are approved for use in preventing the flu. These are prescription medications, and a doctor should be consulted before they are used. During the 2005-2006 influenza season, CDC recommends against the use of amantadine or rimantadine for the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza in the United States. [5]

The annual flu (also called "seasonal flu" or "human flu") kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year. The annually updated trivalent flu vaccine consists of hemagglutinin (HA) surface glycoprotein components from influenza H3N2, H1N1, and B influenza viruses. [6] The dominant strain in January 2006 is H3N2. Measured resistance to the standard antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine in H3N2 has increased from 1% in 1994 to 12% in 2003 to 91% in 2005. [7] [8] Amantadine, 1-aminoadamantane, is an antiviral drug that was approved by the FDA in 1976 for the treatment of influenza type A in adults. ... Rimantadine is an orally administered medicine used to treat, and in rare cases prevent, type A influenza. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Prophylaxis refers to any medical or public health procedure whose purpose is to prevent, rather than treat or cure, disease. ... The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable Influenza virus. ... Hemagglutinin, as depicted in a simplified molecular model. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... The Spanish Flu Pandemic, also known as the Great Influenza Pandemic, the 1918 Flu Epidemic and La Grippe, was an unusually severe and deadly strain of avian influenza, a viral infectious disease, that killed some 25 million to 50 million people worldwide in 1918 and 1919. ... Influenzavirus B is a genus in the virus family Orthomyxoviridae. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... Amantadine, 1-aminoadamantane, is an antiviral drug that was approved by the FDA in 1976 for the treatment of influenza type A in adults. ... Rimantadine is an orally administered medicine used to treat, and in rare cases prevent, type A influenza. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Variability

Influenza is an extremely variable disease and is also found in pigs (swine flu), birds (bird flu), and other animals. In areas where there are high concentrations of humans, pigs and birds in close proximity, such as parts of Asia, simultaneous infections across species enable genetic material to be exchanged between the various strains of flu. It is believed that sooner or later, a recombination may occur to produce a strain as lethal as the 1918 virus. In late 1997, a new strain of avian influenza (also known as bird flu) called H5N1 infected 18 people in Hong Kong, of whom 6 died. 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu (influenza) due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. ... H5N1 is an avian influenza virus. ...

Avian influenza

Main article: Avian influenza

Genetic reassortment ("mixing") of a human flu virus with the current H5N1 avian influenza has been identified as the most likely source of the next pandemic. Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu (influenza) due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. ... H5N1 is an avian influenza virus. ... Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu (influenza) due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. ...

The natural host for influenza virus is aquatic birds. Pandemic influenza often occurs when an avian-adapted virus infects a porcine host, which can be infected by human and avian varieties of influenza A virus. The virus may then recombine within the pig, to form a genetically new virus which is able to infect humans and be transmitted from person to person. Orders Many - see section below. ... Species Sus barbatus Sus bucculentus Sus cebifrons Sus celebensis Sus domesticus Sus heureni Sus philippensis Sus salvanius Sus scrofa Sus timoriensis Sus verrucosus Pigs are ungulates native to Eurasia collectively grouped under the genus Sus within the Suidae family. ... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A virus is a submicroscopic parasite that infects cells in biological organisms. ... Domestic sow with piglet Species Sus barbatus Sus bucculentus Sus cebifrons Sus celebensis Sus domesticus Sus heureni Sus philippensis Sus salvanius Sus scrofa Sus timoriensis Sus verrucosus Pigs are ungulates native to Eurasia collectively grouped under the genus Sus within the Suidae family. ...

The current avian flu threat is due to the H5N1 virus. It is thought likely that the virus will eventually become adapted and able to spread from person to person. If this happens, a pandemic may be unavoidable, since there will be very little immunity to this genetically new virus, and international travel coupled with densely populated cities will spread the virus rapidly. H5N1 is an avian influenza virus. ... A pandemic, or global epidemic, is an outbreak of an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area (from Greek pan all + demos people). ...

Currently, governments are stockpiling anti-viral drugs such as oseltamivir, which can reduce the effects of the virus. It is difficult to design a vaccine for the virus until it has changed into a human adapted form, but if a pandemic does occur a vaccine will be required urgently. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to produce active immunity to a disease, in order to prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by any natural or wild strain of the organism. ... A pandemic, or global epidemic, is an outbreak of an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area (from Greek pan all + demos people). ...

How H5N1 kills

H5N1 is a virus. It has eight RNA molecules in each virion. The exact molecular makeup of hundreds of genotypes (variants) of both H5N1 and other avian flu viruses are known. For example, according to this genome database, the NS RNA molecule of one variant of H5N1 looks like this: H5N1 is an avian influenza virus. ... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A virus is a submicroscopic parasite that infects cells in biological organisms. ... Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid polymer consisting of covalently bound nucleotides. ... A common alternate meaning of virus is computer virus. ... Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid polymer consisting of covalently bound nucleotides. ... In general, a molecule is the smallest particle of a pure chemical substance that still retains its composition and chemical properties. ...

 gtgacaaaga cataatggat tccaacacga taacctcgtt tcaggtagat tgttatctat ggcacataag aaagctactc agtatgagag acatgtgtga tgcccccttt gatgacaggc tccgaagaga ccaaaaggca ttaaagggaa gaggcagcac acttggactc gatttaagag tggctacaat ggaggggaaa aagatcgttg aggacatcct gaagagtgag acaaatgaaa acctcaaaat agccattgct tccagtcctg ctcctcggta tatcaccgat atgagcatag aggagatgag ccgagaatgg tacatgctga tgcctaggca gaaaataact ggaggcctta tggtgaaaat ggaccaagcc ataatggata aaagaattat ccttaaagca aatttctcag ttctatttga tcaactagag acattagtct ctctgagggc attcacagaa agtggtgcta ttgtggctga aatatttccc attccctccg taccaggaca ttttacagag gatgtcaaaa atgcaattgg aatcctcatc ggtggacttg aatggaatga taactcaatt cgagcgtctg aaaatataca gagattcgct tggggaatcc atgatgagaa tgggggacct tcactccctc caaaacagaa acgctacatg gcgaaacgag ttgagtcaga agtttgaaga gatcagatgg ctcattgctg aatgtagaaa tatactgaca aagactgaaa atagctttga acagataaca tttttgcaag cattgcaact cttacttgaa gttgagagtg agataaggac cttctctttt cagcttattt aatactaaaa aacac 

The NS RNA molecule codes for two proteins called NS1 and NEP.

The NS1 protein of the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 viruses circulating in poultry and waterfowl in Southeast Asia is currently believed to be responsible for an enhanced proinflammatory cytokine response. H5N1 NS1 is characterized by a single amino acid change at position 92. By changing the amino acid from glutamic acid to aspartic acid, researchers were able to abrogate the effect of the H5N1 NS1. This single amino acid change in the NS1 gene greatly increased the pathogenicity of the H5N1 influenza virus. A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... H5N1 is an avian influenza virus. ... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A virus is a submicroscopic parasite that infects cells in biological organisms. ... Duck amongst other poultry The Poultry-dealer, after Cesare Vecellio. ... Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ... World map showing Asia. ... Cytokines are small protein molecules that regulate communication among immune system cells and between immune cells and those of other tissue types. ... In chemistry, an amino acid is any molecule that contains both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. ... Glutamic acid (Glu) or glutamate (the anionic form) is one of the 20 standard amino acids used by all organisms in their proteins. ... Aspartic acid, also known as aspartate, the name of its anion, is one of the 20 natural proteinogenic amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins. ... Pathogenicity is the ability of an organism to cause disease in another organism. ...

In short, this one amino acid difference in the NS1 protein produced by the NS RNA molecule of the H5N1 virus is believed to be largely responsible for an increased pathogenicity that can manifest itself by causing a cytokine storm in a patient's body, often causing pneumonia and death. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid polymer consisting of covalently bound nucleotides. ... H5N1 is an avian influenza virus. ... Pathogenicity is the ability of an organism to cause disease in another organism. ... A cytokine storm is a potentially fatal immune reaction consisting of a positive feedback loop between cytokines and immune cells. ... Pneumonia is an illness of the lungs and respiratory system in which the microscopic, air-filled sacs (alveoli) responsible for absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere become inflamed and flooded with fluid. ... Death is the cessation of physical life in a living organism, or the state of the organism after that event. ...

Other important mechanisms also exist "in the acquisition of virulence in avian influenza viruses". [9] Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ...

Sources

• Bright RA, Medina MJ, Xu X, Perez-Oronoz G, Wallis TR, Davis XM, Povinelli L, Cox NJ, Klimov AI (2005). Incidence of adamantane resistance among influenza A (H3N2) viruses isolated worldwide from 1994 to 2005: A cause for concern. Lancet 366 (9492): 1175–81.
• Hope-Simpson RE (1981). The role of season in the epidemiology of influenza. J Hyg (Lond) 86 (1), 35-47. PMID 7462597
• Yohannes K, Roche P, Hampson A, Miller M, Spencer J (2004). Annual report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2003. Commun Dis Intell 28 (2), 160-8. PMID 15460951
• Zakay-Rones Z, Varsano N, Zlotnik M, Manor O, Regev L, Schlesinger M, Mumcuoglu M. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med. 1995 Winter;1(4):361-9. PMID 9395631.

• CDC info on influenza
• World Health Organization Fact Sheet Overview of influenza.
• NHS Direct Health encyclopedia entry

Further reading

• Medicine Net's overview of influenza
• CDC Information About Influenza Pandemics.
• WHO Avian influenza frequently asked questions.
• A guide to bird flu and its symptoms from BBC Health.
• FIC, flu in china & flu information center (bilingual, with forums).
• The Avian Flu Information Site - Layperson's information about avian flu, its history and preventative measures.
• CIDRAP - Avian Influenza (an excellent collection of information; news links, lab confirmed count of cases, suggested reading, etc)
• Multiple resources on Avian Influenza from Iowa State University
• Bird Flu and the Law, JURIST
• Latest Bird Flu news and articles
• Wildlife Disease Information Node - Avian Influenza information for the wildlife perspective
• Avian Influenza News from the USGS National Wildlife Health Center
• Avian Flu Preparedness Guide - from The Center for Technology and National Security Policy

JURIST is an online legal news and research service hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, edited by Professor Bernard Hibbitts and a staff of more than 20 law students. ...