BRAINCAKETransmission of Influenza
Influenza spreads from person to person mainly through the air. When an infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks, they expel droplets of mucus and saliva containing huge numbers of virus particles. Larger droplets travel about one to two metres before falling, but smaller droplets (aerosols) can stay suspended in the air for longer. A healthy person breathes these in, and the virus reaches the epithelium of the nose, throat and airways, its site of infection.
Flu can also spread by indirect contact. Droplets settle on surfaces such as door handles, keyboards and hands. These contaminated objects are called fomites. If someone touches a fomite and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes, the virus can enter the body. The virus can stay infective on hard surfaces for up to about a day.
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Key terms in this lesson
- pandemic
- An epidemic that has spread across many countries or continents.
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All 17 lessons in Viruses, Fungi and Protozoa · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics