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This page updated last on
September 09, 2010
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Viruses
Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of
swine influenza (flu) virus particles (virions) from the April
2009 outbreak, which originated in Mexico City, Mexico. Swine
flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza
viruses. This H1N1 strain also contains genetic material from
bird and human influenza viruses and is able to spread from
human to human. These characteristics give the virus potential
to cause a pandemic. Symptoms are similar to those of regular
human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,
headache, chills and fatigue. It can be fatal. |
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Photo credit / copyright (c)
CDC/Science Photo
Library |
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Additional information:
Virusus are an infectious particle (viron)
smaller than any bacteria and cause a number of diseases such as
smallpox, the common cold, chickenpox, influenza, shingles,
herpes, polio, rabies, Ebola, hanta fever, and AIDS.
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Suggested Reading
Sample list of known viruses |
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