Influenza pandemic

Question 1

Influenza is divided into A, B & C, which is the worst?

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What are the 2 key surface antigens of influenza?

Answer 2

Haemagglutinin - helps virus latch onto target respiratory cells and enter cells
Neuraminidase - enzyme which helps the virus get out of the infected cells

Question 3

The influenza viral genome is very prone to mutation, true or false?

Answer 3

true - there is gene re-assortment which can occur in infections, gene swapping which can occur during co-infection with human and avian flu virus.

Question 4

Some infections are more adapt to infecting birds or other animals and not very good at infecting humans. What can happen to make a virus more adapt for infecting humans?

Answer 4

The virus can infect another animal such as a pig and this causes the virus to mutate. Mutation produces a new virus which is much more adapted to spread in humans.

Question 5

How is influenza spread?

Answer 5

Transmission via aerosols generated by coughs, sneezes and hand to hand contact or personal contact/formites.

Question 6

Symptoms of influenza infection?

Answer 6

Acute respiratory tract symptoms as well as fever, headache, myalgia, weakness

Question 7

What is a complication of influenza which can be life threatening?

Answer 7

Bacterial pneumonia which can be life threatening, especially in those with underlying medical conditions such as cardiac/pulmonary diseases, older age, chronic metabolic disease, chronic renal disease & immunosuppressed patients.

Question 8

What is avian influenza? Who does it most common affect and what can we do to control the spread?

Answer 8

Bird flu
Not really adapt for human spread but it can be transmitted from birds to humans. It is more common in Asia due to close proximity of poultry and people in small rural households. It has a high fatality rate (59%)

Controlling spread

• cull affected birds, not touching dead birds
• biosecurity and quarantine
• disinfecting farms
• control poultry movement
• vaccinate workers for seasonal flu vaccine
• antivirals for poultry workers
• PPE

Question 9

What things can we do for infection control to reduce the transmission of influenza?

Answer 9

hand hygiene
face masks
ppe
cough etiquette
segregation of patients
reduce social contact
environmental cleaning

Question 10

Population wide interventions to reduce the risk of transmission of flu?

Answer 10

travel restrictions
restriction of mass public gatherings
school closures
voluntary home isolation of cases
voluntary quarantine of contacts of known cases
screening of people entering UK ports - costly

Question 11

What are the 3 C’s of super spreading?

Answer 11

1. Close contact
2. Crowding
3. Confined spaces

Question 12

Who are the ‘at risk’ groups for covid?

Answer 12

Those with Down's syndrome (30x higher risk)
Obesity
Diabetes (3x higher risk)
Pregnancy
Elderly
Ethnic minorities