Flavivirus

Paper Summary:

The Flavivirus genus, of the family Flaviviridae, is comprised of a group of some 70 closely-related human or veterinary pathogens causing many serious illnesses, including dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, and yellow fever. Together, such flaviviruses cause millions of cases of human illness each year. Today, several members of this family are among a select group that is being studied to counteract potential bioterrorist attacks. This paper provides an overview of flaviviruses, the structure of the virus responsible for yellow fever, its etiology, treatment, and prognosis. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.

From the Paper:

"The course of yellow fever is rapid; following infection by the bite of the infecting mosquito, there is an incubation period of several days while the virus multiplies within the body. The onset of symptoms is then abrupt, and is characterized by headache, backache, rapidly rising fever, nausea, and vomiting. This stage generally persists for two or three days, after which the patient either begins to recover or proceeds to a deeper febrile state that is marked by high fever, slow pulse rate, and the vomiting of dark, altered blood; death can occur within a week or so after the original onset of symptoms (Yellow fever 2004). Because the virus destroys liver cells, jaundice is a common symptom in patients suffering from yellow fever (this condition is in fact responsible for the name of the disease) (Koshland 1986)."

More papers on Flavivirus:

• Essay # 33217 : "Flavivirus and Yellow Fever."
• Essay # 50385 : "The West Nile Virus"

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