Influenza

[Sarah]

An epidemic affection characterized by acute nasal catarrh, orby inflammation of the throat or the bronchi, and usually accompaniedby fever.

[Sarah]

A common viral infection, Influenza can be dangerous if the victim is old, chronically ill or young, it can even kill. There has been 5 known Influenza Pandemics:
1889-1890 - H2N2 (Russian or Asiatic) Strain
1900 - H3N8 Strain
1918-1920 - H1N1 (Spanish) Strain
1957-1958 - H2N2 (Asian) Strain
1968-1969 - H3N2 (Hong Kong) Strain
The Spanish Pandemic was very devastating as it is thought there were more casualties from the pandemic than there were from World War I. The N5N1 (Avian or Bird) Influenza strain is rapidly spreading throughout countries from migrating birds.

[Michiko]

Influenza is a viral respiratory infection causing fever, coryza, cough, headache, and malaise. Mortality is possible during seasonal epidemics, particularly among high-risk patients (eg, those who are institutionalized, at the extremes of age, have cardiopulmonary insufficiency, or are in late pregnancy); during pandemics, even healthy, young patients may die. Diagnosis is usually clinical and depends on local epidemiologic patterns. The influenza vaccine should be given annually to everyone aged ≥ 6 months who does not have a contraindication. Antiviral treatment reduces the duration of illness by about 1 day and should be specifically considered for high-risk patients.
Influenza refers to illness caused by the influenza viruses, but the term is commonly and incorrectly used to refer to similar illnesses caused by other viral respiratory pathogens. Influenza viruses are classified as type A, B, or C by their nucleoproteins and matrix proteins. Influenza C virus infection does not cause typical influenza illness and is not discussed here.

[exinilu]

A highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh, and often occurring in epidemics.