10 Interesting Facts about the Flu

Have you ever got flu in your life? The answer of that question is clear. Then here are Facts about the Flu. Flu spreads around the world and affects people. Flu or Influenza is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. The disease is marked by common symptoms like a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing and feeling tired.  Let’s check the list below to know more interesting facts about it.

Facts about the Flu 1: Etymology

The term influenza was derived from the Italian language meaning influence. At the beginning, it is associated with the cause of the disease.

Facts about the Flu 2: Virology

Flu viruses are belonging to RNA viruses based on virus classification. There are three kinds of influenza viruses: Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B, Influenzavirus C.

Facts about the Flu 3: Influenzavirus A

The natural hosts for Influenzavirus A are wild aquatic birds. This type of viruses is the most virulent human pathogens among the three influenza types and causes the most severe disease. This type of viruses caused Spanish Flu, Swine Flu, Asian Flu, Hongkong Flu and Bird Flu.

Facts about the Flu 4: Influenzavirus B

This virus almost exclusively infects human and is less common than influenza A. Seal and ferret are the only animals known to be susceptible to influenza B infection. Find more facts about the Element Hydrogen here

Facts about the Flu 5: Influenzavirus C

This virus infects humans, dogs and pigs, sometimes causing both severe illness and local epidemics.  This virus is less common than the other types and usually only cause mild disease in children.

Facts about the Flu 6: Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms and signs of flu can start before infection. The early and common symptoms are chilly sensation and fever. The other symptoms of flu are fever and extreme coldness, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, body aches, fatigue, headache, irritated, watering eyes, reddened eyes, petechial rash. In children, it can be found gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. Find more facts about the Element Mercury here

Facts about the Flu 7: Pandemics

This virus became pandemic in several countries. It is noted that the first record of the influenza pandemic happened in 1850. This pandemic started in Russia and spread to Europe. While the latest pandemic happened is Bird Flu.

Facts about the Flu 8: Prevention

Vaccination and infection control can be used to prevent this virus. Vaccine is recommended by the WHO to protect the high-risk group such as children and health workers. While infection control can be used by hygiene habits and reducing public gatherings.

Facts about the Flu 9: The Greatest Medical Holocaust in History

As the highest death causes in flu pandemics, Spanish Flu has been called as the greatest medical holocaust in history. This happened in 1918 – 1920 and caused 20 to 100 million deaths. These deaths were caused by the Influenza virus A named H1N1 collaborated with bacterial pneumonia.

Facts about the Flu 10: The Bird Flu

The latest pandemic happened is the bird flu. Avian that infected this virus will show the symptoms like ruffled feathers, the low production of leg, loss the weight and minor respiratory disease. `The pathogenic strain of H5N1 causes H5N1 flu and generally called as bird flu.

Hopefully those interesting Facts about the Flu will give you information and make you aware about the influenza viruses.