Library · Microorganism
Influenza virus
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Influenza virus is not a single, uniform entity. The group has four types: A, B, C, and D. Types A and B cause seasonal influenza epidemics in people. The virus is the agent; influenza is the respiratory illness it can cause.
In type A, two surface proteins act as labels: hemagglutinin, H, and neuraminidase, N. Their combinations create names such as H1N1 or H3N2. Those names classify the virus; they do not describe how severe an infection is.
In brief
Influenza viruses belong to a group with four main types: A, B, C, and D. Types A and B cause seasonal influenza epidemics in humans. Naming the virus is not the same as describing the entire illness.
Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two surface proteins: hemagglutinin, abbreviated H, and neuraminidase, abbreviated N. Their combinations produce names such as H1N1 or H3N2, which identify features of the virus.
H and N act as labels.
Sources (1)
- Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTypes of Influenza VirusesPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated