Which microbe causes Influenza?​

• Influenza is caused by influenza virus infection

• In West Africa, the virus may circulate yearlong with one peak of infection during the rainy season (April to October) and another during the dry season (November to March). 

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How is influenza virus transmitted?

• The virus is transmitted from pigs to humans, birds to humans or humans to humans

  • Humans transmit the virus to one another  via coughing, sneezing or talking

  • A healthy individual gets infected  via direct contact with infected individuals, contact via contaminated surfaces with hands, the eyes, mouth or nose

 

What are the symptoms of influenza disease?

• Below are descriptions of mild influenza cases

  • Incubation period is 1-5 days, depending on the amount of the virus or the immune status of the person..

  • High fever (100.4-104 ℉), headache, chills, sore throat, running/stuffy nose, myalgias, fatigue and dry cough

  • Fever declines within 2 to 3 days and goes away  by day 6

  • Cough from sick person changes from dry to productive mucus

• Below are descriptions of severe influenza cases

  • Primary viral pneumonia

  • Secondary bacterial pneumonia

  • Myositis or generalized muscle pain

  • Cardiac involvement; can include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and in severe cases heart failure.

  • Reye syndrome (swelling of liver and brain)

 

Which treatments are available for influenza?​​​

       The available treatments may depend on specific countries and typically      include the following:

• Antiviral drugs (Need to be taken with 2 days of symptoms)

• Non‐pharmaceutical: lots of fluid and rest

                    >Tamiflu (oseltamivir)

                    >Relenza (zanamavir)

                    >Baloxavir (Xofluza)

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What are the preventive measures?​

• Vaccination with WHO-recommended influenza vaccine.