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187 - Influenza

from Part XXIII - Specific Organisms – Viruses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2013

Leanne Gasink
Affiliation:
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Neil Fishman
Affiliation:
Hospital of the University of Pennsylanvia
Harvey M. Friedman
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
David Schlossberg
Affiliation:
Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia
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Summary

Influenza is an important epidemic viral infection that has caused significant morbidity and mortality throughout history. The first worldwide pandemic was documented in 1580, and 31 pandemics have been described since then. The most severe occurred in 1918–1919, when at least 20 million deaths were recorded worldwide, including approximately 550 000 in the United States. The last pandemic was in 1968, but milder epidemics continue to occur every 1 to 3 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) document 10 000 to 40 000 excess deaths in the United States during most epidemics. Recently, the possibility of a worldwide pandemic due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza has become of great concern. Significant resources worldwide have been dedicated to the detection and containment of avian influenza outbreaks and the development of response plans to influenza epidemics at international, national, and local levels.

INFLUENZA VIRAL STRUCTURE AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Influenza viruses are medium-sized enveloped RNA viruses belonging to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Three genera, influenza virus types A, B, and C, have been described. Influenza A and B viruses are important causes of human disease, whereas influenza C virus causes only sporadic upper respiratory infections.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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