Abstract

AN UPDATE ON INFLUENZA - A DEADLY SEASONAL VIRAL INFECTION

D. E. Nirman Kanna*, Subbulakshmi Packirisamy M.Sc.,(PhD.), Deepa Rajendiran, PhD. and Pyary Joy MSc., (PhD.)

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Abstract

Background: Influenza (Flu) is one of the most common infectious diseases which is a highly contagious airborne disease that occurs in seasonal epidemics and manifests as an acute febrile illness with variable degrees of systemic symptoms, it ranges from mild fatigue to respiratory failure and death. Influenza can be defined as the acute contagious respiratory infection, which is caused by orthomyxoviruses A, B, and C, occurs in local outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. Influenza causes severe effects on human mankind, which include significant loss of workdays, human suffering, and mortality. The flu virus can spread from person to person via respiratory secretions. Flu spreads when a person inhales a droplet in the air that contains the flu virus, makes direct contact with respiratory secretions via sharing utensils, or handles items contaminated by an infected person. The flu virus on the skin can infect the person when they touch or rub their eyes, nose, or mouth. Influenza A is virulent, Influenza B is mild, and Influenza C is nonvirulent. Vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent infections, non-pharmaceutical public health measures like physical distancing, using hand rubs, and sanitizers, and wearing proper masks can also be effective in preventing transmission and allowing suppression or mitigation of influenza pandemics and epidemics. Conclusion: In this review, we focused on the latest findings in the etiology, epidemiology, transmission, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of influenza and the incidence and severity profile of influenza virus infections in populations.

Keywords: Influenza, types of influenza, Flu, Infectious Diseases, prevention, and treatment of influenza.