close
    what is the differences between influenza A ,B, & C?

    0  Views: 476 Answers: 1 Posted: 13 years ago

    1 Answer

         Influenza A is capable of infecting birds and swine, and these animals transmit it to humans,  This cross-species activity provides it with a lot of opportunities to mutate and become more virulent; it's the strain responsible for pandemics like swine flu.


         Influenza B is less common, and almost only infects humans (although dogs and ferrets can be infected).  This provides it with less opportunity to mutate, and this allows humans to build up some immunity to it, so it does not cause pandemics.


         Infuenza C is the least common strain, infecting dogs, pigs, and humans.  Although it can cause severe disease and local epidemics, it usually only causes mild disease in children.  I work in a hospital, where we test for Infuenza A and B, but I've never even heard of Influenza C, so that's how rare it is.



    Related Questions In This Category
    hamoxin
    Answers: 1 | Views: 35 | Rating: 0 | Posted: 3 days ago
    Last answer: 2 days ago

    Top contributors in Health category

     
    jhharlan
    Answers: 102 / Questions: 1
    Karma: 8865
     
    ROMOS
    Answers: 124 / Questions: 0
    Karma: 8730
     
    Benthere
    Answers: 6 / Questions: 1
    Karma: 8670
     
    Colleen
    Answers: 233 / Questions: 0
    Karma: 8235
    > Top contributors chart
    497278
    questions
    733578
    answers
    833564
    users