Influenza B virus

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Influenza B virus

Influenza B virus (pronounced: /ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə biː ˈvaɪ.rəs/) is a type of influenza virus that primarily infects humans and is a cause of the seasonal flu. It is one of three types of human influenza viruses, the others being Influenza A and Influenza C.

Etymology

The term "Influenza B virus" is derived from the Italian word "influenza", meaning "influence", and the letter "B" is used to differentiate it from the other types of influenza viruses, A and C.

Characteristics

Influenza B virus is an Orthomyxoviridae family virus. It has a single-stranded, segmented RNA genome. The virus is spherical in shape and has a diameter of about 100 nanometers. It is covered by a lipid envelope, which contains two types of glycoproteins: hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.

Infection and Symptoms

Influenza B virus primarily infects humans, but it has also been found in seals. The virus is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. Symptoms of infection include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, fatigue, and headache.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention of Influenza B virus infection can be achieved through vaccination. The flu vaccine usually contains strains of both Influenza A and B viruses. Treatment includes antiviral medications such as oseltamivir and zanamivir.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski