Influenza A (H1N1)

People are currently talking about Influenza virus A. I thought they were just exaggerating when I've heard news that it also hit some people in our city. But now, a major university in our city is declaring a temporary suspension of their classes due to the spread of this disease..

Influenza A(H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenzavirus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006. Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).

Click the illustration to see how flu strain jump from one species to another including humans. It's called Antigenic Shift and it can happen in 3 ways.

Anyway, if you acquire symptoms of H1N1, go to the doctor right away and have it checked. It's better to treat the symptoms early or regret it later. The complication is what makes it deadly. Remember, health is wealth!

Click image to direct you to the source