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HWN Suggests

H1N-what? understanding the different flu strains

One of the most important things for you to know is that there are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D. Influenza A and B viruses are the ones we know really well – in fact, they're the ones that cause those almost-annual seasonal epidemics in the United States. Influenza C typically causes a mild respiratory illness and doesn't typically cause epidemics. Finally, influenza D mostly affects cattle (yes, as in "moo" and other similar animals) and, at least for now, is not known to infect people... 

The second most important thing for you to understand is how these viruses get their names. Influenza A viruses are all characterized based on two proteins on the outer shell…

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Featured

 Bless you! Meet the flu hunters trying to stop the next pandemic in its tracks

There are even two types: B, a historically human variety, and A, the animal sort, which can jump species and cause pandemics.

 Flu a vs. Flu B: Understanding the Key Differences in Our Annual Visitors

It's that time of year again, isn't it? The air gets a little crisper, the leaves start to turn, and a familiar concern begins to creep into our minds: the flu. We hear about it constantly, especially during the colder months, and we know it's a viral infection that can really knock us off our feet with symptoms like fever, cough, and those achy muscles. What's interesting, though, is that when we talk about the flu, we're often referring to two main culprits that cause the vast majority of seasonal outbreaks: Influenza A and Influenza B. They're like the usual suspects that show up every year, making most of us feel unwell at some point.

 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.

Articles of Interest

What's In A Flu Name? H's And N's Tell A Tale

What in the heck do all these H's and N's mean? H is short for hemagglutinin. And N is short for neuraminidase. More about those in just a moment.

Resources

Orthomyxoviridae

Certain influenzaviruses A naturally infect humans and cause respiratory disease. Particular influenzaviruses A infect other mammalian species and a variety of avian species. Interspecies transmission, though rare, is well documented. Influenza B virus strains appear to naturally infect mainly humans and cause epidemics every few years. Influenzaviruses C cause more limited outbreaks in humans and may also infect pigs

CDC

There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D. Human influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease (known as flu season) almost every winter in the United States. Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause flu pandemics, i.e., global epidemics of flu disease.