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Part I—Flu and “Flu”

1. What are the main symptoms of influenza?

Fever, chills, muscle pains, cough, congested nose, runny nose, headaches, and exhaustion.

2. Would you expect a flu shot to protect against the “stomach flu”? Why or why not?

A flu shot would not protect against stomach flu. The two ailments are caused by different

viruses but vaccines are specific to the causative virus.

3. Identify some of the various causative agents of “stomach flu” and compare them to the

influenza virus.

“Stomach flu” is caused by rotaviruses and noroviruses from ingestion of contaminated food and

water. These are different from the influenza virus as they affect the gastrointestinal system

while the influenza virus affects the respiratory system.

4. Explain how a vaccine provides immunity against infection. Are there any side effects to

the influenza vaccine? Should Karen or Mary worry about developing autism?

Vaccines function by inducing the immune system to react to a virus or bacteria. The immune

system develops a "memory" as a result. This immunological memory enables the body to

"remember" a particular virus or bacteria so that it can defend itself against it and stop sickness

that it may otherwise cause. A minor headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches, and weariness are a

few of the adverse effects, as well as soreness, redness, and/or swelling where the shot was

administered. Karen and Mary shouldn’t be worried about developing autism.

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5. Karen described the upper respiratory infection (URI) that she suffered last year and

thinks that her well-being is a matter of fate. How many infectious agents cause URI? How

can these infections be prevented? How can they be treated?

Four infectious agents cause URI, Viruses, Bacteria, Mycoplasma, and Fungi. Prevention of URI

is by practicing good hygiene, avoiding being in close contact with people who are sick, and

vaccination against URI. URIs are treated for the relief of symptoms, that is, the use of cough

suppressants, Vitamin C, Zinc, Nasal sprays, and necessary antibiotics.

Part II—Shift and Drift

1. Is it a reasonable gamble for Karen to skip the influenza vaccine this year?

No, it is not.

2. What is antigenic drift (or genetic drift)? What is antigenic shift (or genetic shift)?

Antigenic drift is a type of genetic variation in viruses that results from the accumulation of

mutations in the virus genes that produce the virus-surface proteins that host antibodies can

detect.

Antigenic shift is the process by which two or more distinct virus strains—or strains of two or

more distinct viruses—combine to create a new subtype with a combination of the surface

antigens of the two or more original strains.

Part III—Viral vs. Bacterial Infection

1. Can Karen rely on antibiotics if she gets influenza this year? Why or why not?

No, she cannot rely on antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections yet influenza

is a viral infection.
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2. Compare the effectiveness of vaccines to antibiotics (or other antimicrobials) prior to

infection. Compare the effectiveness of vaccines to antibiotics (or other antimicrobials)

after the start of symptoms.

Prior to infection, antibiotics are less effective while vaccines are more effective.

After the start of symptoms, antibiotics are more effective whereas vaccinations are less

effective.

All this is accounted for by the fact that antibiotics only help to help fight an illness that is

already making you unwell, whereas vaccinations build up your immune system so that

infections can't begin.

3. When are antibiotics effective?

They are effective during the treatment of bacterial infections. Additionally, bacteria are

particularly vulnerable during the log phase of growth to the effects of conventional antibiotics

and disinfectants that interfere with the synthesis of protein, DNA, and cell walls. This makes

antibiotics more effective during this period.

Part IV—Who Should Get Vaccinated? 

1. Should Karen’s mother get an influenza shot, or is she too old?

She should get the influenza shot as she is most susceptible to the effects of the infection due to

her old age and declining immunity.

2. What about Karen’s sister who works in a daycare center or Mary’s six-month-old

niece?

Karen’s sister should get the vaccine to prevent the spreading of the virus to the daycare kids.

Mary’s six-month-old niece should also get the vaccine as she is of the recommended age (6

months and older) to get the vaccine.