Influenza Critical Analysis - 740 Words

A Critical Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Emergency Planning for an Influenza Outbreak in the UK 1. Introduction Notable for being the cause of some of history’s most infamous pandemics, the influenza virus was, until the emergence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) several decades ago, the virus that was the most studied of all viruses (Potter, 2001). Furthermore, in 2015 the National Risk Register classified an influenza pandemic as the greatest risk to the security of the United Kingdom (UK) based on the likelihood of occurrence and its predicted impact (UK Cabinet Office, 2015). The devastating influenza pandemic of 1918/19 is estimated to have infected half of the global population with a mortality in the region of 40-50†¦show more content†¦Two different proteins on the surface of influenza A, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), act as antigens triggering the human antibody response, and it is small mutations in these proteins (antigenic drift) which are the cause of large outbreaks and epidemics. However, there is also the potential for a recombination of v ariant forms of HA and NA proteins leading to completely new viral subtypes and it is this sudden ‘antigenic shift’ which has the potential to cause a pandemic (Hawker et al., 2012; Potter, 2001). Diagnosis of influenza is usually based simply on clinical findings but testing (usually reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) can be carried out on various respiratory and blood samples (Ellis and Zambon, 2002). Treatment is not always necessary as in most cases influenza infection will be self-limiting, however when antiviral treatment (neuraminidase inhibitors) is required it is most effective when commenced within 48 hours of symptoms (WHO, 2016). Human to human transmission is via the respiratory route (Public Health England, 2014) however transmission is also possible from infected pigs to humans and vice versa (Nelson et al., 2012) and between birds, including poultry and songbirds, and humans (Jones et al., 2014). Killingley and Nguyen-Van-Tam (2013) note that there are some questions regarding transmission that remain to be answered including the question of relative significance of eachShow MoreRelatedTreatment For Influenza Adults : A Meta Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials1532 Words   |  7 PagesOseltamivir treatment for influenza in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Influenza-Disease Epidemiology Influenza or flu is a contagious viral infection that attacks nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause fever, chills, runny nose, sore throat, cough, muscle ache, and fatigue. The flu virus is extremely small and only visible through electron microscopes. Inside the virus genetic material contains the information to make more copies of the same virus. A protein shell providesRead MoreThe Prevention Of The Flu Season Brings Up A Lot Of Queries About The Disease Prevention Essay857 Words   |  4 Pagesreputation of providing factual health information about disease control and prevention. CDC is one of the government agency that provides guidelines in terms of disease control and prevention. Analysis of Websites Evaluation of websites entails a host of criteria for them to be considered credible. By merely looking at the CDC’s website’s main page, for example, links are provided to a government organization which is U.S Department of Health andRead MoreThe Effects Of Echinacea And Its Effects On The World963 Words   |  4 Pagesrespiratory tract. It then invades tissues in these organs. On the Science Based Medicine database there were many articles found about echinacea and its relation to the cold and flu. The article â€Å"Echinacea for Cold and Flu†, discusses the sales and critical evidence of the herb. It was found that in 2009, â€Å"(echinacea) sales were estimated at $132 million in the US alone in 2009, an increase of 7% over the previous year† (Novella 2010). The article discusses many negative results from most studiesRead MoreInfluenza Continues to Affect The Population in Large Numbers1257 Words   |  6 Pagesantiviral drugs were utilized and proven effective in the prevention of laboratory confirmed influenza and secondary complications among patients in facilities providing long term care. 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These infections impose a large burden on human and animal health worldwide leading to economic losses; In humans, in 2008, 90 million new influenza infections resulted in an estimated 28000- 115000 deaths worldwide (Nair et alRead MoreThe Effects Of Cancer Paved The Road For My Life1436 Words   |  6 Pagesconstructing an S. entertica strain with a promoter mutation to over-express thiO. However, results indicated overexpression of thiO does not reverse growth defects seen in anaerobic conditions. In my second project, I determined that leucine and valine are critical amino acids for restoring growth fermenting and anaerobic nutrient deprived conditions. Lastly, I was responsible to isolate a mutant strain that spo ntaneously gained the ability to produce vitamin B1 in order to gain insight in genomic alterationsRead MoreVaccines Are Promising Methods For Disease Prevention1571 Words   |  7 Pagesimmunization rates, pertussis frequencies and encephalitis frequencies. The United States released the DTaP vaccine in 2005 and it was comprised of two versions; one for use in 10-18-year old’s and another for 11- 64-year old’s. Yih et al. (2009) did an analysis of vaccine uptake and adverse events reported between 2005 to 2008. In order to collect accurate data regarding the safety of the new vaccine, the formation of a surveillance system was implemented; supervised by the Vaccine Safety Datalink whichRead MoreVaccinations : Should They Be Mandatory?1331 Words   |  6 Pagesfortunately, he was victorious against this fatal infection. Started from there were a series of important and noteworthy innovations which changed the vaccine industry forever. From Louis Pasteur’s rabies vaccine in 1885 to the development of the influenza vaccine in 2012, millions upon millions of lives have been saved solely through the life-changing advances made in the vaccination and immunization industry over the couple of centuries. Credit for the ra pid findings of these precious vaccines overRead MoreAlterations Of Brain And Immune Function Produced By Mindfulness Meditation1155 Words   |  5 Pagesin antibodies due to the injected vaccine. Measurement of Variables The experiment measured on the relation between the magnitude of increase in the left anterior activation and the magnitude of antibody titer rise as a response to the injected influenza vaccine between week for and week eight. The dependent variable in the experiment was the left anterior activation while antibody titer was the independent variable. Research Design The study utilized a correlation design whereby relations betweenRead MoreInfluenza A H1N1 Virus1818 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction In 1918-19 approximately 50 million deaths were a detriment of the Spanish H1N1 virus pandemic; a respiratory virus. According to the World Health Organization, the second Influenza A H1N1 pandemic in 2009 spread to more than 200 countries causing more than 18 000 deaths. Before the World Health Organization had announced the official end of the pandemic in August 2010, in July 2009 the World Health Organization sent out a phase 6 warning that H1N1 could soon be a global pandemic.