Influenza
By: Jack Turner
Symptoms
Symptoms of the Flu are...
Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Fatigue (tiredness)
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.”
Causes of the Flu
The flu can be spread by contact with a person who has contracted the virus, through and external surface that leads to the body. The virus can also be contracted by touching a surface that is infected then l moving the virus into your body
Immune cells involved in immune response
Once the flu is contracted by a host white blood cells make b cells which hunt down and attach to the virus. The b cell makes antibodies and lets the T cell they body is under attack. T cells then kill the virus.
How virus replicates
The flu virus replicates in the Lytic cycle. The Lytic cycle means influenza enters the cell and since a virus can replicate without a host the virus overrides the cells function and tells it to make more viruses until the infected cell is so full of viruses it rips open letting out the virus to infect more cells.
This link supports the Lytic Cycle for the Influenza Virus
Treatment
The flu virus can be treated by rest and fluids. Self-medication can be used with Advil and Tylenol. A doctor can not do much but give you Tamiflu.
Prevention
The flu virus can be prevented by staying home if sick, washing your hands before you ingest food. And by not rubbing eyes or noses.