Influenza

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/influenza

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Influenza virus (Orthomyxoviridae family)
2. What is the genome type?Segmented single-stranded RNA
3. What are influenza viruses and how do they infect our bodies?Influenza viruses are tiny single‑stranded RNA viruses that have an outer envelope. Inside this envelope are two proteins: hemagglutinin (HA) that sticks to cells, and neuraminidase (NA) that helps new viruses leave the cell.
4. Why do we get sick with flu every year?The virus changes slowly through tiny mutations in the HA and NA genes, a process called antigenic drift. These small changes let the virus escape our immune memory, causing yearly flu outbreaks.

Antigenic Drift: Gradual accumulation of small genetic changes in influenza viruses, leading to new strains.
Antigenic Shift: Abrupt, major changes in influenza viruses, often leading to pandemics.
Reassortment: The mixing of gene segments from different influenza virus strains within a host.
Sialic Acid Receptors: Molecules on host cells that influenza viruses bind to for entry.