HTH 245 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Luc Montagnier, Influenza A Virus, Opportunistic Infection
Document Summary
Infectious diseases are the result of a failure in adaptation. The more serious or fatal diseases are those in which the microbe and host have not yet adapted to each other; each struggles with the other. Conversely, the normal flora microbes and their hosts are well-adapted to each other and have evolved to coexist peacefully. Epidemics and pandemics have sporadically wiped out populations and in uenced the course of human civilization. Examples of plagues include the black death, smallpox, cholera, influenza, etc. Plagues die out as the population of susceptible (nonimmune) individuals decreases, thus interrupting the cycle of disease. In uenza is caused by an rna virus and is characterized by exaggerated cold-like symptoms, including headache, high fever, muscle pain, severe cough, and congestion. In uenza viruses may infect mammals and birds (particularly ducks). In uenza a virus causes epidemics, and occasionally pandemics, and is associated with animal reservoirs, particularly birds.
