By Jacqueline Saleh

People have suffered from it for thousands of years (about 6,000) Hypothesized that humans acquired influenza when domestication of animals first began Was thought to be caused by “bad air” J.S Koen first discovered the disease in pigs 1918 History of Influenza 1933 became an isolated virus when Wilson Smith, Christopher Andrews, and Patrick Laidrow Pandemic of 1580 killed Asian and Northern Africa and Italy (first recorded outbreak) Did not break out in North America until October of 1732-widespread from along the New England coast from Boston to southern Maine Pandemic of killed 550,000 people in the United States & 20 million around the world (greatest pandemic of twentieth century)

Quick Facts Scientific Name: Influenza Commonly known as the “flu” A virus Belongs to the family of orthomyxoviridae. Does not belong to any of the kingdoms or organisms, because they are parasites (they only live inside the cell of another living organism) Respiratory infection Can only reproduce by taking over a host cell One of the top leading causes of death in the U.S. Three Virus types; Types A, B & C (all 3 are easily spread in a crowd or closed spaces) Type A: causes the most severe diseases and most-likely to cause a pandemic; all the major epidemics in history is caused by type A influenza Type B: also can cause epidemics, but the disease is milder than those caused by type A. Type C: associated with mild illness, sporadic cases, or minor outbreaks (ex. Common cold) Dangerous for Elders, young children, pregnant women (may cause damage to the fetus) and those with chronic diseases such as anemia, asthma etc. Vaccination: not permanent vaccine but helps lower chance of catching the flu by 80%

Fever Chills Body Aches Short dry coughs Sneezing Fatigue Mucus Common Symptoms

How Influenza Spreads When a person coughs/sneezes particles are released Someone can breathe in viral particles Particles attaches themselves to a persons nose, throat, and lungs Once a cell has been infected the cell replicates that virus which infects additional cells