Influenza
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Influenza (or the flu, the grippe) is a very common disease. It is contagious, so it passes from one person to another very easily. Usually, it spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics. In the 20th century, there were three big epidemics (called pandemics) that killed millions of people.
The disease affects the upper airways and the lungs, what doctors call the respiratory tract.
There is a vaccine against influenza.
[edit] External links
- CDC info on influenza
- World Health Organization Fact Sheet Overview of influenza.
- NHS Direct Health encyclopedia entry
- Both overview and technical details on influenza viruses with emphasis on the potential H5N1 pandemic Includes details of various nonhuman influenza viruses. Extensive and well done.
- [1] Another overview of influenza.
