Where do influenza viruses come from?

Answer: Influenza is a virus that’s spread from person to person. It originates, actually, among birds and other animals such as pigs, and new viral strains of influenza come to this country and to Europe from Southeast Asia. That’s the global pattern.

What is the genetic material of influenza virus?

All influenza viruses consist of single-stranded RNA as opposed to dual-stranded DNA. The RNA genes of influenza viruses are made up of chains of nucleotides that are bonded together and coded by the letters A, C, G and U, which stand for adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, respectively.

What kind of virus is influenza?

Influenza viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae. This family represents enveloped viruses the genome of which consists of segmented negative-sense single-strand RNA segments.

Where is the influenza virus most commonly found?

While there are cases of it appearing all around the world, scientists found that it is far more prominent in the east than in the west, particularly in Southeast Asia. While this might suggest more people begin to contract the virus in the east than the west, it’s actually the reverse.

Why do viruses thrive in winter?

Viruses like influenza tend to enter through the mouth and nose, but our nasal passages usually have strong defenses against them. The cold weather, however, slows down our ability to clear the mucus in our noses, making it easier for viruses to infect our bodies.

Do viruses have RNA or DNA?

All viruses have genetic material (a genome) made of nucleic acid. You, like all other cell-based life, use DNA as your genetic material. Viruses, on the other hand, may use either RNA or DNA, both of which are types of nucleic acid.

What influenza means?

Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is commonly called the flu, but it’s not the same as stomach “flu” viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting.