Influenza Overview and Historical Perspectives

A series of flashcards covering essential vocabulary related to influenza, including its characteristics, historical pandemics, and vaccination strategies.

Influenza

A viral infection that typically affects the respiratory system, causing symptoms like fever and cough.

Orthomyxovirus

The family of viruses that includes influenza viruses, characterized by a segmented RNA genome.

Antigenic Drift

Minor changes in the virus's surface antigens that occur over time, leading to seasonal epidemics.

Antigenic Shift

Major changes in the surface antigens of the virus that can create new virus strains, potentially leading to pandemics.

Hemagglutinin (HA)

A surface antigen of the influenza virus that is responsible for the virus's ability to attach to and enter host cells.

Neuraminidase (NA)

An enzyme in the influenza virus that assists in the release of new virus particles from infected cells.

Incubation Period

The time between exposure to the virus and the onset of symptoms, which is typically 1 to 4 days for influenza.

Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia

A common complication of influenza, where a bacterial infection develops on top of a viral infection.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread across a large region, typically affecting multiple countries or continents.

Live Attenuated Vaccine

A type of vaccine that uses a weakened form of the virus to trigger an immune response without causing disease.

Seasonal Influenza

The annual outbreak of influenza that occurs during winter months, often due to circulating strains of the virus.

R0 Value

A measure of the contagiousness or transmissibility of an infectious disease, specifically the average number of people to whom a single infected person will transmit the virus.

Cytokine Storm

An excessive immune response that can occur in severe influenza infections, leading to tissue damage.

Flublok

A quadrivalent HA subunit influenza vaccine produced using recombinant technology.

Fomites

Inanimate objects or surfaces that can carry infectious agents and contribute to the spread of viruses.

Seroconversion

The development of detectable antibodies in the blood in response to an infection or vaccination.

Epidemic Curve

A graphical representation of the incidence of a disease over a period of time, often revealing patterns in outbreaks.