influenza
in·flu·en·za | \ ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen-zə
: an acute, highly contagious, respiratory disease caused by any of three orthomyxoviruses:
(1) or influenza A : moderate to severe influenza that in humans is marked especially by sudden onset, fever, sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes, and cough, that has numerous variants caused by subtypes (such as H1N1, H2N2, or H3N2) of an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A) infecting humans and various animals (such as birds or pigs), and that may occur in seasonal epidemics or sometimes pandemics following mutation in the causative virus
(2) or influenza B : influenza with less severe symptoms that is caused by an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza B virus of the genus Influenzavirus B) infecting only humans and especially children and that may occur in seasonal epidemics but not pandemics
(3) or influenza C : mild influenza that is often asymptomatic, is caused by an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza C virus of the genus Influenzavirus C) infecting only humans, and does not occur in epidemics or pandemics
b : any of various human respiratory infections of undetermined cause —not used technically
2 : any of various virus diseases of domestic animals marked especially by fever, respiratory symptoms, and inflammation of mucous membranes
Note: All types of influenza are commonly called “the flu.”
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