Viruses

virus

Viruses (vy-rus-iz) are very tiny micro-organisms.

Viruses are even smaller than bacteria.

Viruses can only grow and reproduce inside their hosts.

Humans, animals and plants are their hosts.

Peppers effected by viruses

Most viruses cannot live long outside their hosts.

Some viruses can spread very fast inside our body.

They can make us sick.

Measles, chicken pox, polio, mumps and flu are caused by viruses.

H1N1 virus causes Influenza A(H1N1).

AIDS is caused by HIV virus.

HIV viruses in green colour

Viruses can also make plants and animals sick.

Viruses also effect bacteria.

Viruses that effect bacteria are called bacteriophage

Anyway viruses that effect plants cannot effect animals and human.

Viruses that effect human cannot effect plants and animals.

We use viruses to make vaccines.

Vaccines help our body to fight diseases.

Anyway these viruses are not the same as computer virus.

Computer viruses are not living things.

Swine Flu

Swine flu outbreak started in Mexico.

In Mexico more than 81 people died and more than 100 people were sickened by the flu.

All schools are closed in Mexico City and some other places in Mexico.

In the US at least 11 people had swine flu so far.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) fear that more people will get the flu and cause a pandemic around the world.

Swine flu pandemic can kill millions of people.

A pandemic is a disaster.

The virus that causes the flu is a mix of human, pig and bird viruses.

Some signs of swine flu are high fever, body aches, coughing, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea.

We can try to avoid swine flu by :

1. Avoid being in crowded places for example shopping malls and zoos.

2. Wash your hands carefully using anti-bacteria soap.

3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because this is how germs get into our body.

4. Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing.

5. Wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth.

6. Take vitamin C and garlic to fight germs.

7. Take lots of water, fruit juice, tea and herb tea.

CNN) — Mexican officials are asking citizens to avoid large crowds, refrain from kissing as a greeting and maintain a distance of at least 1.8 meters (six feet) from each other amid growing concern in the country and elsewhere over new cases of suspected and confirmed swine flu infection.

Several countries issued travel notices and tightened restrictions to brace against the virus the World Health Organization is calling “a public health emergency of international concern.”

By Sunday, 81 deaths had been deemed “likely linked” to a deadly new strain of the virus by health authorities in Mexico. Viral testing has confirmed 20 cases, said Dr. Jose A. Cordova Villalobos, Mexico’s health secretary. In the United States, the number of confirmed swine flu cases stood at 11.

In New Zealand, officials said 22 students and three teachers, who returned from a three-week-long language trip to Mexico, may have been infected with the virus.

The 25 students and teachers at Auckland’s Rangitoto College returned to New Zealand via Los Angeles on Saturday.

Fourteen have shown flu-like symptoms, with four “more unwell than others,” said Dr. Julia Peters, clinical director of Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

Health Minister Tony Ryall said 10 students tested positive for influenza A. The specimens will be sent to WHO to determine whether it is H1N1 swine influenza. H1N1 influenza is a subset of influenza A.

The WHO results are expected back by midweek. The group remains quarantined at home.