- The Swine Flu Scare In 1976,
there was a small outbreak of influenza A that was closely related
to the 1918-1919 Pandemic strain. Due the frightening outcome of
the related strain, US public health officials quickly developed
huge amounts of a vaccine to the new strain. Even though some
people chose not to be vaccinated, there was no epidemic the
following flu season. A very rare association with the new flu
vaccine was Guillain Barre Syndrome. This serious condition caused
paralysis. Therefore, because of highly visible side effects, and
no visible proof that the vaccination program actually avoided an
epidemic, public health officials were criticized rather than
rewarded for their quick response.
- Hemmaglutination: Orthomyxoviruses sometimes make red blood cells
stick together.
- "Original Antigenic Sin":
This phrase describes the
phenomenon that greatest amount of anitbodies that are stimulated
by an influenza infection are antibodies specific to the strain of
influenza of your first infection.
- Antigenic Shift: is the genetic recombination of diiferent
strains. Two different strains must infect the same host. The
virus also must be promiscuous. Influenza A exhibits antigenic
shift every 10 to 40 years. Shift is one reaon why the virus can
spread throughout the world so quickly.
- Antigenic Drift: is one or more random point mutations that add up
into small molecular changes. They occur within one subtype. It
is not as severe as Influenza A, but is reason why a new strain
occurs yearly. (Thus yearly vaccination is required.)
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