What's the difference between Influenza A and Influenza B?

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What's the difference?

The winter season is always accompanied by a slew of respiratory illnesses, including flu. Flu, which is caused by influenza viruses, can be diagnosed at any time of year, although the number of cases spikes dramatically in the fall and winter. One of the reasons is that, because the air is less humid in the winter, the virus can survive longer indoors.

Influenza, sometimes known as the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can be passed from one person to another by sneezing or coughing and releasing respiratory droplets into the air. The influenza virus is divided into four kinds. The most frequent is influenza A, which is followed by influenza B.

Both are very contagious and can cause severe symptoms such as cough, headaches, muscle, and joint discomfort, as well as worsening chronic medical conditions like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.

Influenza A

The influenza A virus is the most potent and the only one capable of causing a pandemic. This is because it can harm both humans and animals. The virus is usually transmitted by wild birds. A kind of influenza A virus causes both bird flu and swine flu pandemics. When infected individual sneezes or coughs, the virus might spread. Aside from that, people can contract the virus by touching surfaces that have been infected by an infected person.

Influenza B

Influenza B viruses, unlike influenza A viruses, only generate a seasonal outbreak. The influenza B virus does not commonly affect animals. Furthermore, influenza B viruses change at a slower rate than influenza A viruses. It is spread when an infected person comes into touch with aerosol particles suspended in the air.

Also read How long are u infectious if you have the flu ?

Prevalence

The influenza A virus is the more common of the two, accounting for around 75% of all confirmed flu cases each year. Only about a quarter of confirmed cases of influenza B have been reported. Furthermore, influenza A virus infections are more common during the start of the flu season, whereas influenza B infections are more common towards the conclusion.

Influenza A and B are both extremely contagious. An infected person's flu viruses can infect others up to 6 feet away, resulting in severe sickness. Small aerosol particles can go into the other person's nose or mouth, causing serious symptoms.

Contagiousness

In two days, the person begins to experience symptoms after coming in contact with the virus .In the first 3–4 days after becoming unwell, flu viruses are at their most contagious.

Influenza does not cause severe symptoms in people who have a robust immune system. The situation is uncomfortable, but it is tolerable. Immunocompromised people, elderly adults, pregnant women, and newborns are at a higher risk of severe infection. It is a common occurrence for both influenza A and influenza B viruses.

Protection

One of the greatest methods to protect yourself from influenza viruses is to get a flu vaccination before the season starts.

In two days, the person begins to experience symptoms. In the first 3–4 days after becoming unwell, flu viruses are at their most contagious.

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