Lars R. Haaheim visiting group leader from the Immunochemistry Laboratory, UoB. Influenza is a common respiratory pathogen of man. Most people have experienced a number of influenza infections, which has common clinical symptoms of high fever and fatigue.
People normally recover within one week without any treatment or hospital care.
During a severe epidemic, influenza may cause about 1,000 - 2,000 excess deaths in Norway during one season. In this century, major pandemics have occurred infrequently and at unpredictable intervals, with large increases in mortality rates for the whole population including healthy young people. Influenza causes large economic losses due to disruption of the work force and high health care costs. The influenza virus is constantly changing by mutation and genetic reassortment which allow it to escape the host's earlier acquired immunity to the virus. A is prevention of infection either by vaccination or by antiviral drugs.