by Heather Colley

Created on: July 17, 2009

Influenza is a virus affecting the respiratory organs, as evidenced by coughing, sneezing, high fever, headache, and sore throat. The transfer of respiratory droplets from the host to others spreads the virus. When the host coughs or sneezes, manners dictate that he cover his mouth. This places the virus onto his hands, sleeves, or into the air. The host can then touch a doorknob or other surface. When a second person touches the same surface, he is not yet infected. It is when he touches his face around his nose or mouth, that he becomes infected with the virus. These respiratory droplets contain the virus in its contagious state for up to eight hours. A healthy person hosting the virus can be contagious for up to two weeks, including before symptoms even occur.

At least 30, 000 people die each year during influenza season, while a pandemic can occur every 30 to 40 years. Incidences of seasonal influenza have been recorded for hundreds of years, and few people worry about catching it. Pandemics cause more concern, even though deaths from specific strains of the flu can be few or many. This may be because the seasonal flu has had a vaccine created for it, whereas a pandemic flu may not. These pandemic influenzas can cover the globe in a short period of time with little or no treatment.

The most renowned flu season was the Spanish flu of 1918. Although named for the many Spaniards that died, this flu probably began in America. It was the end of World War I, and America had joined the war efforts. Soldiers, ill with the flu, were sent overseas and inadvertently spread a violent form of the flu. Over one fifth of the world's population became ill, with up to 50 million people dying.

Another pandemic involved the Hong Kong flu. This flu occurred in the 1960's and claimed over 700,000 lives. The Swine flu in 1976 caused problems besides the flu. The vaccine created to protect people also claimed lives as well. Most recently, the Swine flu of 2009 is just beginning to make it known, becoming a pandemic in June 2009. A vaccine is currently in the process of being made.

So what purpose does a vaccine serve? A vaccine is simply a small taste of the virus introduced into our bloodstream. This "taste" teaches the body about the virus so it can make antibodies in case it comes in contact with the virus again. It was first discovered in patients who, after exposure to cow pox, were not able to "catch" smallpox. Nowadays, vaccines are commonplace for numerous illnesses, from

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