Influenza
How important are vaccinations?
Basics on Influenza
The influenza virus is very contagious and is spread by talking, sneezing, or coughing which expose tiny droplets to others. It is located in the respiratory portion of the body and infects the nose, lungs, and throat. The virus lasts year round with an increased rate during the fall and winter. Symptoms include but are not limited to a runny nose, sore throat, fever, and chills. People may have an increased risk if they are obese, have a weak immune system, are of age 65 or older, and younger than 12 months. There are four different types of influenza and the most common in humans are A and B.
Jonas Salk and Thomas Francis
Salk and Francis created the first flu vaccine using fertilized chicken eggs and dead strains of the Influenza A virus. Its first use was to protect soldiers fighting in World War II because the death toll of the virus was fairly large. The technique designed by Salk and Francis is used to produce most of vaccines for the flu today.