H1N1 – What’s In A Name?
The current flu pandemic is caused by a virus from the Influenza A family and further identified as H1N1. Influenza A is a specific genetic type of virus found in birds, swine, and humans. It is the most common cause of flu in humans.
There are two specific chemical compounds found on the surface of the influenza virus. The first compound “Hemagglutinin” locks the virus to the cell surface so that the virus can enter the cell and cause infection. The second compound “Neuraminidase” helps release the virus from a previously infected cell so that the virus can spread. There are 16 known types of hemagglutinin and 9 known types of neuraminidase. These number types are used to subclassify the flu virus such as H1N1. Drugs that inhibit neuraminidase are used to treat influenza.
The severe flu pandemic of 1918 was of type H1N1. The current flu virus appears to lack the virulent features that produced an over reaction of the immune system causing widespread illness and death.
