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Influenza Virus: What You Should Know |
What
is influenza?
Influenza better known as the "flu" is an infection of the
respiratory tract that can affect millions of people. The
influenza virus can be spread from person to person through
coughing and sneezing of an infected individual. Statistics
show about 20,000 Americans die from influenza or influenza
related pneumonia each year. Pneumonia and influenza are the
6th common cause of death in the United States. Elderly (65+)
make up more than 90% of the 20,000 Americans who die from
this illness each year. A person may contract the influenza
virus and not experience any symptoms
for a few days. The incubation period for the influenza virus
ranges from 1-4 days.
How does the influenza virus infect the body?
The influenza virus causes influenza or the "flu." Viruses
are not independently living organisms. They cannot survive
in the absence of a living cell. A virus has DNA or RNA, which
allows it to make copies of itself, however, the virus must
be inside a living cell before this information can be used.
Viruses are very small compared to the size of a human cell.
Common parts of all the different kinds of viruses include
the capsid, core, and genetic material (DNA or RNA). The capsid
is the outer shell of the virus, which encloses the protein
core. The core of the influenza virus contains genetic material
called Ribose Nucleic Acid (RNA). The influenza virus and
all viruses can only reproduce in the living cells which they
infect. |
Is
there more than one type of Influenza virus?
There are three types of Influenza viruses: Influenza A, B,
and C. Influenza A can infect animals and humans, the remaining
two (B and C) can only infect humans. Influenza C virus causes
a very mild illness and does not cause epidemics. When viewed
through an electron microscope, influenza viruses are shaped
like spheres or filaments. Immunity to one strain of the influenza
virus does not protect against newly circulating strains of
the virus, which has undergone minor changes or mutations.
Influenza A virus can infect many different types of animals,
including humans, swine, birds, horses, aquatic mammals, and
others. The A virus varies; some may infect only one particular
animal while others may infect several different types of
animals. At times unlike viruses mix when two different strains
combine in a human or animal resulting in a new unique strain
of virus. The 2004 Influenza
Vaccine is typically made of three strains, which include
two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B.
What you need to know about Influenza.
Several lab tests are available that confirm the diagnosis
of influenza. Swabs of the deep nasal passage or throat are
taken and the virus is cultured. These tests are not practical.
The physician usually makes the diagnosis based on symptoms
and physical examination findings. While some may need the
2004 influenza vaccine,
the best way to protect your self from the influenza virus
is by maintaining a healthy immune system. Keep in mind no
vaccine is 100% protective. The vaccine can prevent influenza
symptoms in 70% - 90% of healthy young adults. The percentages
are cut in half to 30% - 40% in frail elderly individuals.
The elderly are less able to develop the protective antibodies
needed as defense against the influenza virus.
As with almost any type of medication, there maybe side
effects of the influenza vaccine. The flu shot is an inactivated
(killed) viral vaccine that is grown in chicken eggs and harvested.
The harvested culture is then purified and tested. If you
are allergic to eggs, you should not be injected with the
influenza vaccine. When
choosing strains to include in the vaccine, scientists determine
which strain will be the most dominant that season. Fall is
the best time to get the influenza
vaccine, but anytime during winter is fine. Each flu
season, the body's antibody levels decrease a few months
after an annual flu shot. Strains in the influenza vaccines
are not always a good match with the strains causing illnesses;
this is why it is important to exercise other option in addition
to or in place of the flu shot. The best way to protect your
self from influenza is by keeping your immune defense system
in optimal condition.
VÄXA Flu Support Pac
is a Scientifically Advanced homeopathic medicinal strategy
engineered to naturally support the function, and thereby
the resistance, of the Immune System. When the Immune System
is weakened it is prone to common bacterial and viral infections,
including influenza, colds, chronic fatigue, laryngitis, asthma
and emphysema, as well as bacillary dysentery, toxic radiation,
and chemical poisoning (and the defective elimination of such
poisons), vaccinal poisonings, herpes simplex & zoster (shingles),
mononucleosis and lymphadenitis, anemia, typhoid and typhus
fever, encephalitis, hepatitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, septic
blood and auto-infections, and subsequent diminution of the
population of red blood cells. VÄXA Flu
Support Pac is formulated to provide nutritional support
for the Immune System. |
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