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Influenza A virus and influenza B virus circulate in humans and cause seasonal epidemics, and influenza C virus causes a mild infection, primarily in children. Influenza D virus can infect humans but is not known to cause illness. In humans, influenza viruses are primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing.
Reasonably effective ways to reduce the transmission of influenza include good personal health and hygiene habits such as: not touching your eyes, nose or mouth; [6] frequent hand washing (with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand rubs); [6] eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables; [16] covering coughs and sneezes; avoiding close contact with sick people; and staying home yourself if ...
Influenza-like illness (ILI), also known as flu-like syndrome or flu-like symptoms, is a medical diagnosis of possible influenza or other illness causing a set of common symptoms. These include fever, shivering , chills , malaise , dry cough , loss of appetite , body aches, nausea , and sneezing typically in connection with a sudden onset of ...
Flu viruses can remain infectious for about one week at human body temperature, over 30 days at 0 °C (32 °F), and indefinitely at very low temperatures (such as lakes in northeast Siberia). Most influenza strains can be inactivated easily by disinfectants and detergents. [10] [11] [12] Flu spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics.
Influenza viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae. [2] Influenza viruses A, B, C, and D represent the four antigenic types of influenza viruses. [3] Of the four antigenic types, influenza A virus is the most severe, influenza B virus is less severe but can still cause outbreaks, and influenza C virus is usually only associated with minor symptoms.
Influenza viruses A and B are estimated to have diverged from a single ancestor around 4,000 years ago, while the ancestor of influenza viruses A and B and the ancestor of influenza virus C are estimated to have diverged from a common ancestor around 8,000 years ago. [40] Outbreaks of influenza-like disease can be found throughout recorded history.
The influenza vaccine is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine. [ 74 ] [ 75 ] [ 76 ] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine as the best way to protect people against the flu and prevent its ...