Influenza A
Influenza A
Influenza A (pronounced: /ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə eɪ/) is a subtype of the Influenza virus that can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. The etymology of the term "Influenza" comes from the Italian word "influenza", meaning "influence", and the "A" denotes the specific subtype of the virus.
Overview
Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause flu pandemics, i.e., global epidemics of flu disease. A pandemic can occur when a new and very different influenza A virus subtype emerges that both infects people and has the ability to spread efficiently between people.
Subtypes
There are many different subtypes of Influenza A virus, these are determined by two proteins on the surface of the virus, Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. There are 18 different Hemagglutinin subtypes and 11 different Neuraminidase subtypes.
Symptoms
Influenza A virus causes the same symptoms as other influenza viruses, including fever, cough, body aches, headache, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Treatment
Treatment primarily consists of rest, hydration, and the use of antiviral drugs designed to treat Influenza A. It is also preventable by yearly influenza vaccination.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Influenza A
- Wikipedia's article - Influenza A
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