0
Viruses (biological)
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses display a wide diversity of shapes and sizes, called morphologies. Generally viruses are much smaller than bacteria. Most viruses that have been studied have a diameter between 10 and 300 nanometres.
1,710 Questions
How long can hand mouth foot virus live on surfaces?
Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease can be contagious for several days or even several weeks depending on the virus. This disease has no cure.
What age is usually affected by rabies?
The rabies infection varies all different ages from ages one and up.
How can we prevent coronavirus?
According to the CDC, “the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.” Some steps you can take to limit your exposure to the virus:
- Regularly wash your hands for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Pay attention to hand hygiene, especially when you’ve been in a public place and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
- Practice social distancing by increasing the space between you and other people. That means staying home as much as you can, especially if you feel sick.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces (like keyboards, doorknobs, and light switches) every day.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow or a tissue. Throw the tissue away immediately and wash your hands.
- Wear a facemask only if you are sick or are caring for someone who’s sick and can’t wear a facemask.
For more information on this ever-developing COVID-19 pandemic, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s page dedicated to the virus, found here.
Can a possum or a rat get rabies?
It depends upon the country. Rabies is not present in Australia, so possums and rats in Australia cannot get rabies.
In North America, opossums rarely contract rabies (see the related link below for one documented case), but rats can certainly be carriers.
It is the flu
The influenza virus is known more commonly as the flu, a virus that has symptoms such as runny nose, head and body aches, sneezing, and some digestive problems.
Are viruses classified by their shape?
A virus can have one of two structures. These are:
•Helical virus. A helical virus is rod- or thread-shaped. The virus that causes rabies is a helical virus.
•Icosahedral virus. An icosahedral virus is spherically shaped. Viruses that cause poliomyelitis and herpes simplex are icosahedral viruses.
How many deaths have been caused by wuhan Coronavirus?
This is the subject of much debate. It sounds simpler than it is as the formula is the number of deaths / number of cases. The problem is that nobody knows the number of cases.
There are already more than likely tens of thousands of people walking around who had Coronavirus and didn’t even know it or suspected they had it but weren’t included in the official numbers.
Most estimates seem to be a 2%+ mortality rate for known cases, with an actual mortality rate of between 0.8% to 1% for mortality for all cases (including those not reported). The Guardian Newspaper reports wildly varying stats by country – Italy 9%, UK 4.6% and Germany a really low 0.3%. Germany’s higher testing rate is given as a reason for the lower mortality rate for what is the same disease.
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
They are caused by different viruses and have slightly different symptoms.
See related question below for the symptoms of the A-H1N1/09 "Swine Flu".
The symptoms of the cold and flu can be hard to differentiate, sometimes not even possible without a specific laboratory test to determine which virus is causing your symptoms. See the related link below for more information on this from US Flu website, Flu.gov.
The primary differences are:
- The flu usually causes a high fever and a cold doesn't cause a fever except in rare circumstance.
- General aches and pains with the flu are usually present and can be severe, with a cold they are mild.
- You may feel very fatigued from the flu and this is unusual with a cold.
- Headaches are much more common with the flu.
- The usual cold symptoms of stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat are only sometimes seen with the flu.
- A severe cough comes with the flu but is not as severe with a cold.
Colds typically begin with a sore throat. Sometimes a mild fever, cough, and/or a stuffy nose are present. It is important to note the difference between a cold and an allergy because of the different treatments associated with each. Cold symptoms can usually be controlled through the use of a decongestant and anti-inflammatory medicine (e.g. Ibuprofen). Fever is not as common in colds as in the flu. Those with colds almost always have fevers under 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are a few basic kinds of flu viruses but hundreds of cold viruses. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations, whereas this is possible with an infection with a flu virus.
FLU
LIKELY (>50% chance of these symptoms)
- fever 102 deg. F (39 deg. C) or higher (can reach up to 107 deg. F (42 deg. C) in extreme cases)
- dry hacking cough
- severe runny nose
- stuffiness
- chills (happen during fevers when body adjusts thermostat to raise it's set point)
- headache
POSSIBLE (30-50% chance)
- sore throat
RARE (< 30% chance)
- diarrhea
- vomiting
COLD
LIKELY (>50% chance)
- runny nose
- stuffiness
- coughing frequently
POSSIBLE (30-50% chance)
- fever 99 deg. F to 101 deg. F (37.2 deg C to 38.3 deg C.)
- chills
- sore throat
RARE (<30% chance)
- gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting
The 'flu - an abbreviation for "influenza" - is a viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh, and often occurring in epidemics.
A cold, on the other hand, a common viral infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed.
Influenza (the flu) is usually a more severe illness than the common cold, which is caused by other respiratory viruses. The 'flu typically showcases symptoms including headaches, chills and cough followed rapidly by a fever, appetite loss, muscle aches and tiredness. Cold symptoms are limited to the upper respiratory tract with runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, and throat irritation.
What is the cure for the human corona virus?
So far there hasn't been a cure, doctors are trying to use different treatments to beat the virus.
For protection against catching and being sick with the flu. See the related question below about how vaccinations work.
What effect will a virus in lytic cycle have on an organism?
It is in the "reproduction" process when in the lytic cycle, so the effect will be that the virus will force the organism to replicate more and more "baby" viruses. The host cells will eventually die or be killed when it splits open (or buds) to release the new virus particles. The new particles will infect more and more cells of the host, killing the host's cells each time they split, making the host feel sicker and sicker until their defense systems figure out how to kill the viruses.
The Norwalk virus (Norovirus) does not have a lyosgenic cycle. It does not remain dormant as lysogenic viruses can. It is lytic and is considered virulent.
a blood test to determine if you have immnuity to varicella (chicken pox).
Is chickenpox virus a DNA or RNA virus?
The virus that causes chickenpox, known as varicella zoster virus or VZV, is closely related to the herpes viruses and is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus
Can you catch the flu from bed sheets?
It is possible but not very likely. See the related question below about how long a virus lives outside the body. It would be more on the pillow or pillow case instead of in a pillow. Ultra violet light "kills" many viruses, so if you are concerned and are unable to wash the pillow, then if you can set it out in the sunlight for several hours that will speed the process of inactivation of any viruses.
What real-life virus does the Motaba virus resemble?
No, Motaba is a fictional disease, based loosely off Ebola, which appeared in the movie Outbreak. It was later referenced in an episode of Clerks: the Animated Series. ~ Any "bug" which afflicts masses of people living in close proximity--typically college dorms, offices, with no explainable cause or origin. ~ A "bug" which is more psychological than physical, and spreads rapidly amongst people with little to no physical contact.
What are 4 ways that viruses are not like living things?
Viruses are living things, but very strange: they barely make the list of life.
1. Viruses do not eat or give off waste.
2. Viruses do not grow.
3. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own: they have to hijack cells since they don't have the equipment themselves.
4. Viruses are a whole lot smaller than even bacteria: an influenza virus is ten times shorter than a Strepoccocus bacterium that causes strep throat.
When a rabid dog bites an individual, the Rabies Virus (RV) gets inoculated into muscle. After undergoing a local replication in the muscle, RV enters the motor neurons and travels in a retrograde manner to reach the brain. The virus then replicates in the brain establishing the neurological symptoms and then reaches the salivary glands by centrifugal flow thus making the individual infective.
Studies have revealed that Phosphoprotein (P protein) of the RV binds to the dyenin protein present in the neuronal cells which aid in the transport through the neuron. Acetyl choline receptors have proven to act as receptors for virus binding and susequent entry into the neuronal cells. It has also been revealed that the hypocampal region in the brain is the center of RV infection from where the virus spreads to different parts of the CNS.
How big is a virus relative to the human cell?
A virus is not an element, so it does not have atoms.
A virus is not a compound, so it does not have molecules.
A virus is a nucleic acid molecule surrounded by several different protein molecules and in some cases enclosed in a lipid bilayer membrane. If enclosed in a lipid bilayer membrane, the membrane is composed of a very large number of different fatty acid triglyceride molecules.
Is there penicillin in the flu vaccine?
Yes, you can get the flu shot if you are allergic to penicillin. There is no penicillin in the flu vaccine. If you have an allergy to eggs, that could be an issue, but see the related question below about egg allergies and flu vaccinations, it may not prevent you from getting the flu vaccination if you take specific precautions according to new information from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
yes
You should get flu vaccinations every year because the flu is still out there and prevention is the best method. Sometimes, if you do get flu vaccinations, there is still a chance for you to feel mild flu symptoms as a reaction to the vaccine. If you do get sick here are some medications or solutions you can take/do to help you get better:
If you have annoying sinus pressure (stuffy nose), try using a Neti Pot (to irrigate your sinuses) or a nasal spray. Ask the pharmacist for other suggestions based upon your specific symptoms.
NSAIDS, such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen, and other drugs from this class can help with fever and reduction of inflammation of tissues, as well as general aches and pains and headaches.
If you have a stomach ache, you can try to sip bubbly drinks (Sprite,7UP, Ginger Ale) or take a medication like Peptobismal or other over the counter stomach medicines.
Headaches are VERY common. They can be caused directly by the virus causing the flu or from dehydration, stuffy sinuses, fever, rhinitis (runny irritated nose) or other common flu symptoms, such as coughing.
A good method for reducing all the symptoms and to help with aches and pains is as simple as taking a hot bath or shower. It will relax muscles, ease headaches, humidify and soothe mucus tissue, and make you feel fresher and rest better.
The annual flu shot is recommended, and also other preventive measures such as washing your hands with warm water and soap to keep away germs.
If you are a diabetic do you have to take the flu vaccine?
Nobody has to take it in the US, but it is highly recommended by the public health organizations that those at high risk for complications do get the vaccination. Diabetics are among the groups at higher risk.
The vaccines approved in the US have undergone more testing than even the yearly seasonal flu vaccines usually undergo, and have been deemed safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with their approval for use. The vaccine is being manufactured the way that seasonal flu vaccines have been for years which have had very low adverse effects.
If you have concerns, discuss this with your doctor to find out what the best plan is for your particular case.
See the related questions below for a list of the groups who are at higher risk for complications from the A-H1N1/-09 influenza.
Where did the virus Ebola get its name from?
The virus is named after the Ebola River Valley in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), which is near the site of the first recognized outbreak, a mission hospital run by Flemish nuns, in 1976.
When did scientists first know about viruses?
The very first virus discovered was in 1892 by Dmitri Iwanowsk. While studying mosaic tobacco disease, he found that the agent causing the disease was small enough for pass though ceramic filter that are small enough to trap all bacteria. This was not called a virus at the time.
