1. Disease name, means of transmission and usual reservoirs
Name: Flu, Influenza, Influenza Pandemic.
Means of transmission include: Fecal-oral transmission, interspecies transmission, vehicle transmission (via contaminated surfaces), and Air.
http://www.who.int/inffs/en/fact211.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol4no3/webster.html
http://www.naid/nih.gov/factsheets/flu.html
Reservoirs: aquatic birds, farm animals. The water supply and the human body. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol4no3/webster.html
http://www.naid/nih.gov/factsheets/flu.html
2. Etiologic agent, general characteristics and key test for identification.
Etiological agent: Influenza viruses include types A, B, C
General Characteristics: types A & B, responsible for epidemics of respiratory illness. Type C does not cause epidemics. Type B causes minor illness while in older people it can cause death. Type A can cause pandemics. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm
Key for I.D. Immunofluorescence test is used for direct detection of antibodies in nasal secretions. Serology test using hemagglutinin-inhibition also detects antibodies during acute infections. And by Polymerase Chain Reaction, (PCR) or by antigen capture ELISA with monoclonal antibody to the nucleoprotein. http://tag.ahs.kitasato-u.ac
3. Historical information, when and who isolated the microbe and any Significance of its name.
I. Historical info: First identified by R. Pfeiffer and simultaneously by S. Kitasato on page 28 of Deutsche Mediziniche Wochenshcrift (18:28,1892), reported," successful pure culture of Influenza bacillus". http://tag.ahs.kitasato-u.ac
II. Because of the great epidemics of the time, the name Haemophilus influenzae was given because it was mistakenly thought to be the cause of the influenza pandemics of 1890 through World War I. But it seems to have been a secondary invader involved in those pandemics. Microbiology: an introduction/Gerard.J.Tortora, Berdell R.Funke, Christine L.Case
III. Epidemics allowed lots of work to be poured into the influenza enigma. Due to the contributions of L.Pasteur, Koch, Lister, and others the Germ Theory was developed. Koch's postulate was followed leading finally to the identification of the causative agents Hemophilus influenza and Influenza Viruses types A, B, and C. http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/uda/fluscimed.html
Significance of its name:
It was called influenza because Pfeiffer was in search of the "influence factor of the pandemics of disease." http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/uda/fluscimed.html
4. Signs and symptoms of the disease
Signs: Fever, chills, cough, sore throat. Possibly progressing to pneumonia.
Symptoms: malaise, muscle aches, nausea, dizziness, trouble swallowing.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm
5. Microbial virulence mechanisms contributing to the disease process.
Influenza types A or B viruses cause the epidemics of disease almost every winter. In the U.S. winter epidemics can cause illness in 10% to 20% of people, and are associated with an average of 20,000 deaths. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm
The Flu is contagious in adults from day 3 to day 7 after symptoms start, children for longer than 7 days. (Symptoms begin 1to 4 days after the virus has entered the body.) During days 1 to 4 both adults and children can spread the virus to others. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm
Virulence Factors
http://www.medinfo.ufl.edu/year2/mmid/bms5300/bugs/influ.html
6. Control or treatment for the disease.
I. Some 20,000 people die every year in our country because of the Influenza epidemics. In the greatest defense against Influenza is getting a flu vaccine every fall. If you should get the flu there are four antiviral agents available for treatments these are: amantaidne, rimanadine, zanamivir, and oseltamirvir.
7. Prevention, particularly current research about a vaccine or other means of Control /prevention.
The best prevention is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, disinfections techniques, such as frequent hand washing and antisepsis. Microbiology: an introduction/Gerard.J.Tortora, Berdell R.Funke, Christine L.Case
Neuraminidase inhibitors, a class of antiviral agents, inhibit influenza A, and B viruses. Zanamivir is available for uncomplicated sudden illness cause by influenza viruses for people 12 or older, who have experienced symptoms for 2 days or less. Oseltamivir is also available for uncomplicated influenza infection in adults older than 18 years of age that have experience symptoms for 2 days or less. Neither of these has been approved for prophylaxis. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm
REFERENCES:
http://www.who.int/inffs/en/fact211.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol4no3/webster.html
http://www.naid/nih.gov/factsheets/flu.html
http://tag.ahs.kitasato-u.ac
Microbiology: an introduction/Gerard.J.Tortora, Berdell R.Funke, Christine L.Case
http://www.stanford.edu/group/virus/uda/fluscimed.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm
http://www.medinfo.ufl.edu/year2/mmid/bms5300/bugs/influ.html