People are always getting obsessed
with rare diseases affecting fewer people. However, the scientists
have always been forgetting that the simplest virus is still the
worldwide leading killer.
The common flu is able to kill more people than any other disease
in the world. In the United States alone, at least 36,000 people
die every winter due to the influenza virus. That’s why some
scientist is often so scared about minor flu outbreaks. This
is because every century there will be at least 3 to 4 times
of flu pandemic around the world. This can happen because of
the ability of the flu virus to mutate and surprise the world.
The influenza virus is divided into three types, type A, B
or C, depending on its structure. Type A is the one responsible
for dangerous worldwide pandemics while Type B are considered
threats on smaller scales. Type C virus has only minor or milder
symptoms. Type A can affect all creatures while type B and C
only affects humans.
The influenza A virus is further divided into subtypes that
are based on their protein structure. They could either be classified
as Hemmaglutinin (HA) or Neuraminidase (NA). Both subtypes have
other more subtypes; all of their subtypes can combine to form
another species.
The influenza A virus can or has the capacity to evolve because
of two ways. These two ways are the Antigenic Drift or Shift
properties the influenza A posses.
Antigenic drift are the small and permanent yet constantly
going alterations material of the virus. Instead of repairing
the older genetic errors as they reproduce, they just create
new strains to replace the older ones. We all have antibodies
that ward us off particular strains of flu virus. But as stated
earlier, virus mutate. Our antibodies don’t. So they are not
able to protect us from the newer strains that have developed.
Antigenic shift is the property of the virus to join with other
subtype A virus that comes from another species. For instance,
it can trade and merge genes with a flu virus coming form birds.
This will result in a new strain that is completely different
form the parent virus. That makes it hard to find out what kind
of vaccine could be used to prevent it.
Now we see why scientists and world health officials are scrambling
over the bird flu virus or any other new flu strain that has
developed. They are all trying to prevent another epidemic that
could kill lots and lots of people from a simple flu.
