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Introduction to Influenza C

The least commonly identified of the three influenza viruses infecting humans - Influenza A, Influenza B, and C- The infection caused by Influenza C in general produces less severe cases of respiratory illness compared to infections caused by the two other types; it is known to be associated with milder disease outbreaks. Primarily, Influenza C mainly infects children, but adults also can be infected. While Influenza A and B cause annual epidemics. Sporadic episodes at different times of the year do not result in epidemic disease, which is detectable as a result of Influenza C infection.

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 Influenza C virus in humans and animals

Influenza C virus (ICV) was discovered in 1947 and detected in humans, with natural infections occurring periodically. However, early studies on ICV were challenging in diagnosis because the virus is difficult to culture. As a result, the disease burden and pathogenicity of ICV have been underestimated. Recent studies using molecular biological techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction have provided further insights into prevalence, seasonality, genomic diversity, and evolution. In addition, the possibility of interspecies transmission was suggested based on the high similarity between the nucleotide sequence of ICV confirmed to infect animals and the sequence of ICV isolated from humans

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In situ structure and organization of the influenza C virus surface glycoprotein

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Influenza C virus

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Influenza C Virus: Structure and Function of M Gene and Its Products

Influenza C virus (Fig.1), which belongs to the genus Influenza C Virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, was first isolated from a patient with respiratory illness in 1947.

Sensitive Diagnostics Confirm That Influenza C is an Uncommon Cause of Medically Attended Respiratory Illness in Adults

With the advent of improved influenza diagnostic techniques such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the epidemiology of influenza C as a pathogen has been reevaluated. This virus has been associated with acute respiratory illnesses in children, especially those less than 2 years of age and in a variety of clinical circumstances (inpatient and outpatient)...

The A, B, and C of influenza virus

Influenza A viruses tend to garner most of the attention, but let’s not forget that there are two other virus types, B and C.

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ScienceDirect

Influenza C, a distant relative of types A and B, infects children primarily and typically causes only mild symptoms.