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Reasons why I hate my roommates


On this week’s Caitlyn’s Corner blog, I am going to talk about a special little virus called Influenza.

Influenza, aka the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness. We all know that the flu can bring on symptoms of a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. However, I bet I will be able to inform you about a few facts you did not know.

The symptoms that you get do not begin until about two days after being exposed to the virus. These symptoms typically only last about a week or so. Influenza viruses are of the family Orthomyx-oviridae. They are enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses with segmented genomes containing seven to eight gene segments

There are 3 main types of the influenza viruses; Type A, Type B and Type C. The main difference between the 3 types are that they differ in host range and pathogenicity. Type A has only been known to cause the flu in humans. Wild aquatic birds are the natural hosts for a variety of influenza A. Type B is known for the most part to only infect humans. However, scientists have found cases where animals, such as a seal or ferret, have been susceptible to influenza B infection. Finally Type C is known to infect humans, as well as dogs and pigs. Type A is the most severe and most common and while Type C is not nearly as severe.

These three types of virus also differ in their makeup. Influenza A virions have three membrane proteins (HA, NA, M2), a matrix protein (M1), a ribonucleoprotein core (consisting of 8 viral RNA segments and three proteins: PA, PB1, PB2), and the NEP/NS2 protein. Influenza B virions differ by having four proteins in the envelope: HA, NA, NB, and BM2. Influenza C viruses are different in the fact that they have hexagonal structures on the surface and they contain 7 RNA segments unlike the 8 RNAs that influenza A and B viruses have.

 So enough about the types, I am now going to explain how we get the flu. It all starts by someone sneezing or coughing near someone. If that sneeze gets into someone’s eyes, nose, or mouth directly they are now infected. If someone inhales that person’s cough or sneeze, they’re now infected. And finally, if you touch an infected surface then with your dirty hands touch your face, mouth, or nose, guess what? You are now infected. We all know that viruses replicate in living cell. SO, when this virus enters your bodies via the three routes mentioned, the influenza virus can begin its multi-step replication process. First, the virus enters the cell to deliver it genome and produces new copies of viral proteins and RNA. Once these components are assembled into new viral particles, the virus leaves the host cell. Finally, about 48 hours later, you start coughing, sneezing, and feeling like your dying.

In all actuality, I honestly do not know if I have the flu. I never went to the doctor and I am already feeling better. If anything, I probably got in contact with Type C influenza. However, on Monday and Tuesday I felt like literal death so naturally I have to overexaggerate. So, for all of my fellow classmates reading this and freaking out because I was in the same room as ya’ll on Monday and Wednesday, do not worry… too much. Both influenza A and B diseases can be prevented by getting a flu shot. We do not want a repeat of the worst pandemic on record, that killed approximately 50 million people worldwide in 1918. So, get your flu shot, wash your hands, and don’t spread death around campus.



Sources:



http://www.virology.ws/2009/09/22/the-a-b-and-c-of-influenza-virus/

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 5, 2017 at 6:01 PM

    To start off.. this roommate hates you too! I just wanted to start by explaining that you clearly do not have the same sickness as me because I do not have a runny nose. Therefore, you should blame our other roommate. On a completely different note, this is extremely interesting. I never really did research over the sickness I literally get every year.... multiple times. It will always be crazy to me that it is so easy to contract a sickness from someone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 5, 2017 at 7:28 PM

    I feel it can defiantly vary depending on the person. I used to get sick every single year but after I got really bad cough that lasted a month I have not gotten sick after that. I get affected by allergies but nothing that has taken me out for a whole day. Still as an EMT I worry about catching something from patients since we are stuck in a literal box on the way to a hospital together.
    Anyways the point I was trying to make. When I did get sick I always tried to still do stuff and I hated being in bed. My brother on the other hand is on the floor and acting like each breath is his last when he gets the flu. Getting sick is the worst thing for him. I wonder if it just has to do with our variable pain indexes or if maybe one of us has a better immune system compared to the other.

    ReplyDelete
  3. daniellevuOctober 6, 2017 at 5:26 AM

    This was a great post! It kept me super entertained. It was interesting to learn more about an illness that nearly everyone gets every year. I was wondering the same thing as Lucio. It’s crazy how two people can get the same illness and react to it in to completely opposite ways.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Samson NdukweOctober 6, 2017 at 8:23 AM

    Your post was amusing. I knew some information about influenza prior to reading your post but I was not aware of the pathological route. I knew how to contract the infection but did not know what the virus did once it entered the host's body.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownOctober 6, 2017 at 2:53 PM

    Great blog! I always enjoy reading your blogs. I never really cared enough to look into the specifics of influenza and that is probably because I have never had it, but I still found it very informative! I was extremely surprised at the fact that there are three types because I only thought there was two. I still have not received my flu shot for this year, I should probably go!

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownOctober 6, 2017 at 4:58 PM

    I absolutely love your blog this week and Coral's very timely response! The flu is very common, yet I find it very interesting how many people do not really know about the virus they are hosting. Great job on your post!

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownOctober 6, 2017 at 9:08 PM

    The title was hilarious and I love how you incorporate your sense of humor into your posts! Very well written and an interesting read. I had no idea that three types of influenza viruses existed. I always just assumed it was one type and that everyone had the same type so it's nice to learn something new!

    ReplyDelete

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