explanation of the origin of influenza pandemics
Influenza virus causes both epidemics every few years, and pandemics every few decades. This section describes how the changes in the virus are responsible for generating epidemics and pandemics.
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The influenza virus genetic material (genome) consists of eight separate pieces of RNA, which are packaged together in each virus particle (virion). The hemaglutinin (HA) protein is exposed on the surface of the virus and is the target for antibodies, so in previously exposed individuals the antibodies bind to this protein and neutralize the ability of the virus to cause an infection. When there are small mutations in the HA gene of the virus, this changes the surface structure so that the antibody is unable to ...
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Influenza virus causes both epidemics every few years, and pandemics every few decades. This section describes how the changes in the virus are responsible for generating epidemics and pandemics.