ANTHROP 2U03 Lecture : The Forgotten Plague
Document Summary
Professional historians have been extremely skeptical about the importance of epidemics in history . Howard phillips and david killingray (2003:1) the spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-19. Two surface antigens: hemagglutinen (h) and neuraminidase (n) (15 and 9 different types of each respectively) Influenza b & c > ordinary flu. All strains change constantly via mutation (mutates often) Influenza a virus (highly pro to mutation) Easily acquires genes of animal influenza strains. Antigenic drift: minor genetic changes (a, b and c) Antigenic shift: major genetic change (a only) genetic recombination. Ducks are the most important animal in terms of passing influenza to humans. Describes influenza a subtypes that primarily affect pigs. Describes influenza a subtypes that primarily affect fowl. Cells in pig"s throat have receptors for both bird and mammalian viruses. Viruses mingle, exchange genes and > new flu strains in the pig"s throat. There have always been strains of influenza circulating through the world"s population.