Question

INFLUENZA

a. Name the virus most likely to cause the flu.

b. Why was the H1N1 swine flu so dangerous?

c. How do flu symptoms differ from the common cold? List at least 4 differences.

Answer 1

A. Influenza viruses are most likely causing the flue.

B.  The disease is highly infectious and contagious and can be deadly in humans. Furthermore, influenza virus replicates efficiently in the upper and lower respiratory tract of ferrets, is associated with mild or moderate clinical signs and pathological changes and is transmitted efficiently between ferrets via aerosols or respiratory droplets. These results are in agreement with observations in humans, where generally mild disease but relatively efficient human-to human transmission has been observed

C. It can be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and influenza in the early stages of these infections.

* Symptoms of common cold includes;

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Rhinitis
• Sore throat
• Hoarseness
• Head aches

* Influenza have the symptoms of common cold. Other major symptoms are;

• Ear pressure
• Earache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Irritated, watering eyes
• Reddened eyes, skin (especially face), mouth, throat and nose
• Petechial rash
• In children, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.