penubuhan Malaysia

Penubuhan Malaysia .


Tunku Abdul Rahman dalam satu ucapan beliau di depan Persatuan Wartawan Asing di sebuah hotel di Singapura pada 27 Mei 1961, menggagaskan penubuhan negara Malaysia yang terdiri daripada Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, Singapura, Brunei Sarawak, dan Sabah. Antara lain, ia bertujuan untuk menyekat pengaruh komunis, mengimbangi jumlah penduduk, meningkatkan kemajuan ekonomi dan mempercepat proses kemerdekaan terhadap Singapura, Brunei, Sarawak dan Sabah. Singapura menyambut baik idea tersebut manakala Brunei enggan menyertainya. Manakala Sarawak dan Sabah yang mulanya menolak cadangan tersebut akhirnya telah bersetuju apabila diberi jaminan mengenai pemerintahan sendiri.

Untuk memberikan kebebasan dan keadilan kepada semua pihak, pada 17 Januari 1962 sebuah suruhanjaya yang akan meninjau pandangan penduduk negeri-negeri tersebut telah diumumkan dan dikenali sebagai Suruhanjaya Cobbold. Suruhanjaya itu dianggotai oleh 5 orang ahli, dipengerusikan oleh Lord Cobbold dan dianggotai oleh dua wakil Kerajaan British, Sir Anthonv Abell dan Sir David Watherston, sementara wakil Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu pula terdiri dari Datuk Wong Pow Nee dan Encik Mohamed Ghazali Shafie. Mr. H. Harris bertindak selaku Setiausaha.

Sepanjang Februari-April 1962, Suruhanjaya ini telah menemui lebih 4000 orang dan menerima 2200 memorandum daripada pelbagai pihak yang terdiri daripada parti-pati politik, ahli-ahli mesyuarat kerajaan dan undangan, pembesar-pembesar, anak-anak negeri dan pemimpin kaum, majlis bandaran, pemimpin-pemimpin agama, kesatuan sekerja dan orang ramai yang memberikan pandangan. Secara keseluruhan, lebih lapan puluh peratus bersetuju dengan gagasan tersebut dan pada 21 Jun 1962, laporan tersebut telah diserahkan kepada kerajaan British.




Kata sepakat telah dicapai antara Perdana Menteri Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, Tunku Abdul Rahman dengan Harold Macmillan, Perdana Menteri British untuk mengadakan rundingan di London. Rundingan tersebut berlangsung selama 2 minggu. Pada 9 Julai 1963, satu perjanjian penting telah ditandatangani di Pejabat Perhubungan Komanwel di Malborough House, London. Perjanjian Penubuhan Persekutuan Malaysia ini telah ditandatangani oleh wakil-wakil Kerajaan British, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, Sabah, Sarawak dan Singapura. Kerajaan British telah diwakili oleh Perdana Menteri Encik Harold Macmillan, Encik Ducan Sandys dan Lord Landsdowne.


Kerajaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu pula telah diwakili oleh Perdana Menteri Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Encik Tan Siew Sin, Datuk V.T. Sambanthan, Datuk Ong Yoke Lin dan Dr. Lim Swee Aun. Sabah pula telah diwakili oleh Datuk Mustapha bin Datuk Harun, Encik Donald A. Stephen, Encik W.K.H. Jones, Encik Khoo Siak Chiew, Encik W.S. Holley dan Encik G.D. Sundang. Wakil-wakil dari negeri Sarawak pula terdiri daripada Encik P.E.H. Pike, Temenggung Jugah, Datuk Bandar Abang Haji Mustapha, Encik Ling Beng Siew dan Datuk Abang Haji Openg. Sementara Singapura telah diwakili oleh Encik Lee Kuan Yew dan Encik Goh Keng Swee. Kedua-dua negara bersetuju mengeluarkan kenyataan bersama pada 12hb Julai 1963 iaitu Kerajaan British bersetuju menyerahkan kedaulatan Sabah, Sarawak dan Singapura kepada Kerajaan Malaysia dan Malaysia akan wujud pada 31hb Ogos, 1963.

Ketika ura-ura pembentukan Malaysia menjadi kenyataan, Filipina dan Indonesia menentang keras gagasan tersebut. Filipina mendakwa Sabah adalah sebahagian daripada wilayahnya manakala Indonesia yang mempunyai perancangan mewujudkan Indonesia Raya telah cuba menggagalkan usaha tersebut dengan lebih keras lagi dengan mengisytiharkan Konfrantasi pada 20 Januari 1963 dengan slogan ‘Ganyang Malaysia’. Tentera Indonesia dihantar menyusup sempadan Malaysia terutama di Sabah dan Sarawak serta Johor.

Cabaran getir yang dihadapi ini tidak mematahkan semangat pemimpin dan rakyat Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, Singapura, Sarawak dan Sabah untuk melihat satu negara bersatu. Walaupun perancangan sebenar pengisytiharan akan dibuat pada 31 Ogos 1963, majlis tersebut terpaksa ditangguhkan. Lawrance Michelmore selaku wakil Persatuan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) sekali lagi mengadakan tinjuan pandangan penduduk Borneo Utara dan Sarawak. Pada 14 September 1963, laporan telah dikeluarkan yang mengesahkan majoroti penduduk negeri tersebut menyokong penyertaaan dalam Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Justeru, pada 16 September 1963, gagasan tersebut telah menjadi kenyataan dan lahirlah sebuah kesatuan yang dikenali sebagai Malaysia.

Pengisytiharan tersebut dibuat di Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Upacara membaca deklarasi penubuhan Malaysia itu telah dilakukan di hadapan Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Raja-Raja Melayu, Gabenor-Gabenor Pulau Pinang, Melaka, Singapura, dan Sabah. Turut serta dalam upacara itu ialah tiga orang pemimpin dari tiga buah negeri yang baru di dalam Persekutuan Malaysia iaitu En. Lee Kuan Yew, En. Donald Stephens dan En. Stephen Kalong Ningkan. Bagaimanapun, penyertaan Singapura hanya mampu bertahan selama dua tahun apabila terpaksa berpisah pada 1965.

posted by http://www.malaysiamerdeka.gov.my/v2/ms/sejarah/penubuhan-malaysia

posted by smksb 2k2 group 1(Kamilia)

Sejarah Kemerdekaan .


Suara tuntutan kemerdekaan telah lama kedengaran. Malangnya setelah Jepun menyerah kalah pada 15 Ogos 1945 apabila Hiroshima dan Nagasaki dibom, penjajah Inggeris kembali ke Tanah Melayu dengan niat menjadikan Tanah Melayu sebagai sebuah koloni.

Di Tanah Melayu, penyerahan kuasa secara rasmi oleh Jepun kepada Inggeris dibuat di Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur pada 22 Februari 1946. Inggeris telah memperkenalkan Malayan Union yang memberikan hak sama rata khususnya dalam isu kerakyatan kepada semua penduduk tanpa mengira keturunan dan kesetiaan mereka terhadap negara.




Perjanjian Persekutuan yang ditandatangani oleh Raja-Raja pada 21 Januari 1948 berjaya mengembalikan Tanah Melayu ke pangkuan orang Melayu; kedaulatan raja-raja, hak keistimewaan dan hak kewarganegaraan.

Malayan Union ternyata mendatangkan kerugian dan meminggirkan hak kaum Melayu dan bumiputera sebagai penduduk asal negara ini serta menjejaskan institusi dan fungsi Raja-Raja Melayu. Oleh itu, cadangan Inggeris memperkenalkan Malayan Union mendapat tentangan hebat seluruh orang Melayu termasuk Majlis Raja-Raja. Datuk Onn telah mengumpulkan lebih 200 perwakilan Melayu dalam Kongres Melayu Seluruh Tanah Melayu pada 1 - 4 Mac 1946 di Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Kuala Lumpur. Sebuah jawatankuasa yang dianggotai oleh tokoh-tokoh seperti Dato Onn Jaafar, Dato Panglima Bukit Gantang, Dato Nik Ahmad Kamil, Dato Hamzah Abdullah dan En. Zainal Abidin (Za’ba) ditubuhkan.

Kongres bersetuju dengan cadangan untuk menubuhkan sebuah pertubuhan yang dinamakan United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) atau Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu (PEKEMBAR) yang akan dibentangkan dalam kongres akan datang. Dalam Kongres Melayu Seluruh Tanah Melayu Ke-3 di Johor Bharu Dato’ Onn Jaafar mengumumkan penubuhan UMNO pada 11 Mei 1946. penubuhan ini bertujuan untuk memperjuangkan sebuah negara Malaya merdeka dan berdaulat, memajukan dan memelihara kepentingan orang Melayu dan rakyat Malaya dan memelihara dan mempertahankan agama dan adat resam Melayu serta kedudukan institusi Raja-Raja Melayu.

Penentangan mereka berjaya mengubah Malayan Union kepada Perjanjian Persekutuan yang ditandatangani oleh Raja-Raja pada 21 Januari 1948 yang mengembalikan Tanah Melayu ke pangkuan orang Melayu; kedaulatan raja-raja, hak keistimewaan dan hak kewarganegaraan. Perjuangan orang Melayu berjaya membentuk Persekutuan Tanah Melayu yang mengandungi 9 buah negeri Melayu iaitu Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, dan Negeri-Negeri Selat iaitu Pulau Pinang dan Melaka. Ia diketuai oleh Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British yang mempunyai kuasa eksekutif dan dibantu serta dinasihati oleh Majlis Mesyuarat Kerja Persekutuan dan Majlis Mesyuarat Undangan Persekutuan.


Kedudukan Majlis Raja-Raja berjaya diletakkan pada tempat yang lebih baik yang antara lain berfungsi menasihatkan Pesuruhjaya Tinggi mengenai dasar-dasar yang akan dilaksanakan di Persekutuan Tanah Melayu. Jawatan Residen diganti oleh seorang Menteri Besar. Sementara syarat-syarat kerakyatan diperketatkan melalui kuatkuasa undang-undang dan naturalisasi secara permohonan.

Selangkah orang Melayu terus mara dengan kesatuan yang bulat untuk mendapatkan kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu. UMNO dipimpin oleh ramai tokoh yang terbilang seperti Datuk Onn Jaafar, Tun Abdul Razak, Ghaffar Baba, Dr. Ismail, Aziz Ishak, Sardon Jubir dan sebagainya untuk menyusuri jalan kemerdekaan. Pelantikan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra menggantikan Dato’ Onn Jaafar yang meletakkan jawatan sebagai Yang Dipertua UMNO pada 26 Ogos 1951 nyata membuka lembaran baru dalam perjuangan menuntut kemerdekaan.

Ternyata perjuangan berabad lamanya orang Melayu bermula sejak kejatuhan Kerajaan Melaka, orang Melayu bersama sultan atau pemimpin tempatan sentiasa cuba mengembalikan maruah bangsa dan negara. Perjuangan mereka dimulai secara perang gerila sebagaimana dirintis oleh bekas kesultanan Melaka (1511) dan kesultanan Johor, Raja Haji (1782), Dol Said (1831), Datuk Maharaja Lela, Datuk Sagor (1875), Datuk Bahaman, Mat Kilau (1891), Tok Janggut (1914), Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong (1928), Datu Mat Salleh (1894), Sharif Mashahor (1860), Rentap (1853) dan sebagainya.

Bentuk perjuangan orang Melayu menuntut kemerdekaan pada sekitar awal 1900 mula digerakkan oleh golongan agama seperti Syed Syeikh al-Hadi, Syeikh Tahir Jalaluddin, pergerakan Hizbul Muslimin, pondok agama Gunung Semanggol, begitu juga peranan Syeikh Abdullah Fahim, guru agama di Kepala Batas pada tahun-tahun 1930-an dan guru-guru Melayu khususnya dari Sultan Idris Training College.

Selepas itu, bentuk perjuangan berubah menggunakan tinta dan mata pena. Mereka daripada kalangan novelis, cerpenis, penyajak dan wartawan Melayu khususnya daipada Utusan Melayu banyak memberikan pendedahan mengenai perjuangan membebaskan diri daripada cengkaman penjajahan. Antara pelopornya ialah Zainal Abidin Ahmad (Za’ba), A. Rahim Kajai, Ibrahim Yaakob, Ishak Haji Mohamad, Ahmad Boestamam, Usman Awang, Shahnon Ahmad dan ramai lagi hingga sebahagian daripada mereka menjadi buruan Inggeris dan dipenjarakan. Sesungguhnya apabila kita menyusuri akar perjuangan kemerdekaan, ternyata ia telah banyak menumpahkan keringat, darah dan air mata.

posted by http://www.malaysiamerdeka.gov.my/v2/ms/sejarah/sejarah-kemerdekaan

posted by smksb 2k2 group 1(Kamilia)

erti kemerdekaan

Erti Kemerdekaan .


Kemerdekaan yang dikecapi bermakna kita bebas bukan sekadar daripada penjajahan fizikal malahan mencakupi spiritual dan mental. Erti kemerdekaan yang dinikmati ialah membebaskan diri daripada cengkaman kuasa asing seterusnya berusaha bangkit sebagai bangsa bermaruah. Kekuatan politik untuk memperolehi kemerdekaan perlu didokong oleh penguasaan ilmu pengetahuan untuk mempercepatkan proses pembangunan negara.


Menyorot kembali perjuangan kemerdekaan bangsa Melayu sejak 1511 hingga ke Perang Dunia Kedua 1941-1945, negara ini telah mengalami 3 peringkat perjuangan. Peringkat pertama, secara militan atau gerila, perjuangan pondok yang dipelopori oleh golongan ulama dan kemudian golongan nasionalisma yang berjuang melalui mata pena. Ketiga-tiga kategori perjuangan ini berjalan berasingan sehinggalah pada cadangan untuk mengadakan Kongres Melayu pertama pada 1-4 Mac 1946 diadakan dan menyatukan ketiga-tiga kategori perjuangan ini dengan lebih tersusun dan teratur. Terbentuknya UMNO semasa persidangan tersebut telah memantapkan lagi perjuangan ke arah menuntut kemerdekaan negara.


Menjadi tanggungjawab rakyat generasi baru hari ini untuk mengenang dan menghayati erti kemerdekaan. Tugas kita pada hari ini adalah memenuhi dada dengan ilmu pengetahuan agar kemerdekaan yang dimiliki dapat dipertahankan dan dikekalkan. Tanpa ilmu pengetahuan, kemerdekaan yang baru sahaja diperolehi amat rapuh.




Rakyat perlu bersedia menghadapi pelbagai cabaran untuk memperkasakan bangsa yang merdeka. Sementelah seluruh rakyat Malaysia telah melalui pelbagai cabaran getir, kemerdekaan perlu dihayati dan diisi dengan memelihara kekuatan politik, ekonomi, sosial, agama, bahasa, budaya dan seni warisan bangsa. Segala jurang pembangunan, ekonomi dan sosial di kalangan kaum perlu dirapatkan dan diperkukuhkan agar saling menikmati erti kemerdekaan. Perpaduan yang terbina semenjak usaha memperolehi kemerdekaan perlu diteruskan dan disemai supaya rakyat menjadi semakin kukuh.


Bumi bertuah ini telah melahirkan ramai pemimpin berkaliber ketika negara bergelut dengan pelbagai masalah seperti kemiskinan, taraf pendidikan yang rendah, perpaduan kaum bahkan ancaman komunis ketika Darurat yang diisytiharkan sejak 1948 lagi. Dengan memperkenalkan Dasar Ekonomi Baru 1970-1990 (DEB), Rancangan Buku Hijau dan Buku Merah, rancangan mempertingkatkan penguasaan ekonomi penduduk bumiputera dan jurang perbezaaan antara kaum dapat diharmonikan. Dasar pendidikan bermula dari Penyata Razak dan Rahman Talib hingga kini berjaya membebaskan diri rakyat daripada belenggu kejahilan kepada masyarakat moden.


Beberapa dasar negara telah diperkenalkan seperti Dasar Pandang ke Timur, Dasar Perindustrian, Dasar Pensyarikatan dan Wawasan 2020 telah menjadikan Malaysia negara maju. Kemerdekaan menjadikan kita bangsa yang merdeka dan berdaulat serta bebas menyusun hala tuju sendiri. Kita bebas dari sudut ekonomi, politik, ketenteraan, budaya dan agama. Bebas dalam erti kata mengikut acuan dan kemahuan kita untuk membentuk jati diri bangsa Malaysia yang berdaulat.


Menyelami erti kemerdekaan dengan menyusuri lembaran sejarah bangsa akan menyedarkan seluruh rakyat betapa perjuangan kemerdekaan tidak pernah terhenti. Seharusnya kegemilangan ini menjadi pemangkin kepada generasi baru negara untuk meneruskan kecemerlangan yang telah dicapai. Pengorbanan generasi terdahulu perlu menjadi inspirasi untuk kita terus berusaha gigih menjadi bangsa yang maju dan moden.

posted by www.malaysiamerdeka.gov.my/v2/ms/sejarah/erti-kemerdekaan

posted by smksb 2k2 group 1(Kamilia)

influenza

Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort.[1] Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a more severe disease than the common cold and is caused by a different type of virus.[2] Influenza may produce nausea and vomiting, particularly in children,[1] but these symptoms are more common in the unrelated gastroenteritis, which is sometimes called inaccurately "stomach flu."[3] Flu can occasionally cause either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia.[4]

Typically, influenza is transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus. Influenza can also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Airborne aerosols have been thought to cause most infections, although which means of transmission is most important is not absolutely clear.[5] Influenza viruses can be inactivated by sunlight, disinfectants and detergents.[6][7] As the virus can be inactivated by soap, frequent hand washing reduces the risk of infection.[8]

Influenza spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics, resulting in the deaths of between 250,000 and 500,000 people every year,[9] up to millions in some pandemic years. On average 41,400 people died each year in the United States between 1979 and 2001 from influenza.[10] In 2010 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States changed the way it reports the 30 year estimates for deaths. Now they are reported as a range from a low of about 3,300 deaths to a high of 49,000 per year.[11]

Three influenza pandemics occurred in the 20th century and killed tens of millions of people, with each of these pandemics being caused by the appearance of a new strain of the virus in humans. Often, these new strains appear when an existing flu virus spreads to humans from other animal species, or when an existing human strain picks up new genes from a virus that usually infects birds or pigs. An avian strain named H5N1 raised the concern of a new influenza pandemic, after it emerged in Asia in the 1990s, but it has not evolved to a form that spreads easily between people.[12] In April 2009 a novel flu strain evolved that combined genes from human, pig, and bird flu, initially dubbed "swine flu" and also known as influenza A/H1N1, emerged in Mexico, the United States, and several other nations. The World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak to be a pandemic on June 11, 2009 (see 2009 flu pandemic). The WHO's declaration of a pandemic level 6 was an indication of spread, not severity, the strain actually having a lower mortality rate than common flu outbreaks.[13]

Vaccinations against influenza are usually made available to people in developed countries[14] Farmed poultry is often vaccinated to avoid decimation of the flocks.[15] The most common human vaccine is the trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) that contains purified and inactivated antigens against three viral strains. Typically, this vaccine includes material from two influenza A virus subtypes and one influenza B virus strain.[16] The TIV carries no risk of transmitting the disease, and it has very low reactivity. A vaccine formulated for one year may be ineffective in the following year, since the influenza virus evolves rapidly, and new strains quickly replace the older ones. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat influenza, with neuraminidase inhibitors (such as Tamiflu or Relenza)[17] being particularly effective.

Influenzavirus A
Influenzavirus B
Influenzavirus C

These viruses are only distantly related to the human parainfluenza viruses, which are RNA viruses belonging to the paramyxovirus family that are a common cause of respiratory infections in children such as croup,[19] but can also cause a disease similar to influenza in adults.[20]

classification
Influenzavirus A

This genus has one species, influenza A virus. Wild aquatic birds are the natural hosts for a large variety of influenza A. Occasionally, viruses are transmitted to other species and may then cause devastating outbreaks in domestic poultry or give rise to human influenza pandemics.[21] The type A viruses are the most virulent human pathogens among the three influenza types and cause the most severe disease. The influenza A virus can be subdivided into different serotypes based on the antibody response to these viruses.[22] The serotypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human pandemic deaths, are:

H1N1, which caused Spanish Flu in 1918, and Swine Flu in 2009
H2N2, which caused Asian Flu in 1957
H3N2, which caused Hong Kong Flu in 1968
H5N1, which caused Bird Flu in 2004
H7N7, which has unusual zoonotic potential[23]
H1N2, endemic in humans, pigs and birds
H9N2
H7N2
H7N3
H10N7

Influenzavirus B
This genus has one species, influenza B virus. Influenza B almost exclusively infects humans[22] and is less common than influenza A. The only other animals known to be susceptible to influenza B infection are the seal[24] and the ferret.[25] This type of influenza mutates at a rate 2–3 times slower than type A[26] and consequently is less genetically diverse, with only one influenza B serotype.[22] As a result of this lack of antigenic diversity, a degree of immunity to influenza B is usually acquired at an early age. However, influenza B mutates enough that lasting immunity is not possible.[27] This reduced rate of antigenic change, combined with its limited host range (inhibiting cross species antigenic shift), ensures that pandemics of influenza B do not occur.[28]

Influenzavirus C

This genus has one species, influenza C virus, which infects humans, dogs and pigs, sometimes causing both severe illness and local epidemics.[29][30] However, influenza C is less common than the other types and usually only causes mild disease in children.[31][32]

Structure, properties, and subtype nomenclature

Influenzaviruses A, B and C are very similar in overall structure.[33] The virus particle is 80–120 nanometers in diameter and usually roughly spherical, although filamentous forms can occur.[34][35] These filamentous forms are more common in influenza C, which can form cordlike structures up to 500 micrometers long on the surfaces of infected cells.[36] However, despite these varied shapes, the viral particles of all influenza viruses are similar in composition.[36] These are made of a viral envelope containing two main types of glycoproteins, wrapped around a central core. The central core contains the viral RNA genome and other viral proteins that package and protect this RNA. RNA tends to be single stranded but in special cases it is double.[35] Unusually for a virus, its genome is not a single piece of nucleic acid; instead, it contains seven or eight pieces of segmented negative-sense RNA, each piece of RNA containing either one or two genes.[36] For example, the influenza A genome contains 11 genes on eight pieces of RNA, encoding for 11 proteins: hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), nucleoprotein (NP), M1, M2, NS1, NS2(NEP: nuclear export protein), PA, PB1 (polymerase basic 1), PB1-F2 and PB2.[37]

Hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) are the two large glycoproteins on the outside of the viral particles. HA is a lectin that mediates binding of the virus to target cells and entry of the viral genome into the target cell, while NA is involved in the release of progeny virus from infected cells, by cleaving sugars that bind the mature viral particles.[38] Thus, these proteins are targets for antiviral drugs.[39] Furthermore, they are antigens to which antibodies can be raised. Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on antibody responses to HA and NA. These different types of HA and NA form the basis of the H and N distinctions in, for example, H5N1.[40] There are 16 H and 9 N subtypes known, but only H 1, 2 and 3, and N 1 and 2 are commonly found in humans.[41]


Replication
Viruses can replicate only in living cells.[42] Influenza infection and replication is a multi-step process: First, the virus has to bind to and enter the cell, then deliver its genome to a site where it can produce new copies of viral proteins and RNA, assemble these components into new viral particles, and, last, exit the host cell.[36]

Influenza viruses bind through hemagglutinin onto sialic acid sugars on the surfaces of epithelial cells, typically in the nose, throat, and lungs of mammals, and intestines of birds (Stage 1 in infection figure).[43] After the hemagglutinin is cleaved by a protease, the cell imports the virus by endocytosis.[44]

Once inside the cell, the acidic conditions in the endosome cause two events to happen: First, part of the hemagglutinin protein fuses the viral envelope with the vacuole's membrane, then the M2 ion channel allows protons to move through the viral envelope and acidify the core of the virus, which causes the core to dissemble and release the viral RNA and core proteins.[36] The viral RNA (vRNA) molecules, accessory proteins and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase are then released into the cytoplasm (Stage 2).[45] The M2 ion channel is blocked by amantadine drugs, preventing infection.[46]

These core proteins and vRNA form a complex that is transported into the cell nucleus, where the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase begins transcribing complementary positive-sense vRNA (Steps 3a and b).[47] The vRNA either is exported into the cytoplasm and translated (step 4) or remains in the nucleus. Newly synthesized viral proteins are either secreted through the Golgi apparatus onto the cell surface (in the case of neuraminidase and hemagglutinin, step 5b) or transported back into the nucleus to bind vRNA and form new viral genome particles (step 5a). Other viral proteins have multiple actions in the host cell, including degrading cellular mRNA and using the released nucleotides for vRNA synthesis and also inhibiting translation of host-cell mRNAs.[48]

Negative-sense vRNAs that form the genomes of future viruses, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and other viral proteins are assembled into a virion. Hemagglutinin and neuraminidase molecules cluster into a bulge in the cell membrane. The vRNA and viral core proteins leave the nucleus and enter this membrane protrusion (step 6). The mature virus buds off from the cell in a sphere of host phospholipid membrane, acquiring hemagglutinin and neuraminidase with this membrane coat (step 7).[49] As before, the viruses adhere to the cell through hemagglutinin; the mature viruses detach once their neuraminidase has cleaved sialic acid residues from the host cell.[43] Drugs that inhibit neuraminidase, such as oseltamivir, therefore, prevent the release of new infectious viruses and halt viral replication.[39] After the release of new influenza viruses, the host cell dies.

Because of the absence of RNA proofreading enzymes, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that copies the viral genome makes an error roughly every 10 thousand nucleotides, which is the approximate length of the influenza vRNA. Hence, the majority of newly manufactured influenza viruses are mutants; this causes antigenic drift, which is a slow change in the antigens on the viral surface over time.[50] The separation of the genome into eight separate segments of vRNA allows mixing or reassortment of vRNAs if more than one type of influenza virus infects a single cell. The resulting rapid change in viral genetics produces antigenic shifts, which are sudden changes from one antigen to another. These sudden large changes allow the virus to infect new host species and quickly overcome protective immunity.[40] This is important in the emergence of pandemics, as discussed below in the section on Epidemiology.


Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of influenza can start quite suddenly one to two days after infection. Usually the first symptoms are chills or a chilly sensation, but fever is also common early in the infection, with body temperatures ranging from 38-39 °C (approximately 100-103 °F).[53] Many people are so ill that they are confined to bed for several days, with aches and pains throughout their bodies, which are worse in their backs and legs.[1] Symptoms of influenza may include:

Fever and extreme coldness (chills shivering, shaking (rigor))
Cough
Nasal congestion
Body aches, especially joints and throat
Fatigue
Headache
Irritated, watering eyes
Reddened eyes, skin (especially face), mouth, throat and nose
Petechial Rash[54]
In children, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain,[55][56] (may be severe in children with influenza B)[57]

It can be difficult to distinguish between the common cold and influenza in the early stages of these infections,[2] but a flu can be identified by a high fever with a sudden onset and extreme fatigue. Diarrhea is not normally a symptom of influenza in adults,[51] although it has been seen in some human cases of the H5N1 "bird flu"[58] and can be a symptom in children.[55] The symptoms most reliably seen in influenza are shown in the table to the right.[51]

Since antiviral drugs are effective in treating influenza if given early (see treatment section, below), it can be important to identify cases early. Of the symptoms listed above, the combinations of fever with cough, sore throat and/or nasal congestion can improve diagnostic accuracy.[59] Two decision analysis studies[60][61] suggest that during local outbreaks of influenza, the prevalence will be over 70%,[61] and thus patients with any of these combinations of symptoms may be treated with neuraminidase inhibitors without testing. Even in the absence of a local outbreak, treatment may be justified in the elderly during the influenza season as long as the prevalence is over 15%.[61]

The available laboratory tests for influenza continue to improve. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains an up-to-date summary of available laboratory tests.[62] According to the CDC, rapid diagnostic tests have a sensitivity of 70–75% and specificity of 90–95% when compared with viral culture. These tests may be especially useful during the influenza season (prevalence=25%) but in the absence of a local outbreak, or peri-influenza season (prevalence=10%[61]).


Mechanism
Transmission

Influenza virus shedding (the time during which a person might be infectious to another person) begins the day before symptoms appear and virus is then released for between 5 to 7 days, although some people may shed virus for longer periods. People who contract influenza are most infective between the second and third days after infection.[63] The amount of virus shed appears to correlate with fever, with higher amounts of virus shed when temperatures are highest.[64] Children are much more infectious than adults and shed virus from just before they develop symptoms until two weeks after infection.[63][65] The transmission of influenza can be modeled mathematically, which helps predict how the virus will spread in a population.[66]

Influenza can be spread in three main ways:[67][68] by direct transmission (when an infected person sneezes mucus directly into the eyes, nose or mouth of another person); the airborne route (when someone inhales the aerosols produced by an infected person coughing, sneezing or spitting) and through hand-to-eye, hand-to-nose, or hand-to-mouth transmission, either from contaminated surfaces or from direct personal contact such as a hand-shake. The relative importance of these three modes of transmission is unclear, and they may all contribute to the spread of the virus.[5][69] In the airborne route, the droplets that are small enough for people to inhale are 0.5 to 5 µm in diameter and inhaling just one droplet might be enough to cause an infection.[67] Although a single sneeze releases up to 40,000 droplets,[70] most of these droplets are quite large and will quickly settle out of the air.[67] How long influenza survives in airborne droplets seems to be influenced by the levels of humidity and UV radiation: with low humidity and a lack of sunlight in winter aiding its survival.[67]

As the influenza virus can persist outside of the body, it can also be transmitted by contaminated surfaces such as banknotes,[71] doorknobs, light switches and other household items.[1] The length of time the virus will persist on a surface varies, with the virus surviving for one to two days on hard, non-porous surfaces such as plastic or metal, for about fifteen minutes from dry paper tissues, and only five minutes on skin.[72] However, if the virus is present in mucus, this can protect it for longer periods (up to 17 days on banknotes).[67][71] Avian influenza viruses can survive indefinitely when frozen.[73] They are inactivated by heating to 56 °C (133 °F) for a minimum of 60 minutes, as well as by acids (at pH <2).[73]


Pathophysiology
The mechanisms by which influenza infection causes symptoms in humans have been studied intensively. One of the mechanisms is believed to be the inhibition of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) resulting in lowered cortisol levels.[74] Knowing which genes are carried by a particular strain can help predict how well it will infect humans and how severe this infection will be (that is, predict the strain's pathophysiology).[30][75]

For instance, part of the process that allows influenza viruses to invade cells is the cleavage of the viral hemagglutinin protein by any one of several human proteases.[44] In mild and avirulent viruses, the structure of the hemagglutinin means that it can only be cleaved by proteases found in the throat and lungs, so these viruses cannot infect other tissues. However, in highly virulent strains, such as H5N1, the hemagglutinin can be cleaved by a wide variety of proteases, allowing the virus to spread throughout the body.[75]

The viral hemagglutinin protein is responsible for determining both which species a strain can infect and where in the human respiratory tract a strain of influenza will bind.[76] Strains that are easily transmitted between people have hemagglutinin proteins that bind to receptors in the upper part of the respiratory tract, such as in the nose, throat and mouth. In contrast, the highly lethal H5N1 strain binds to receptors that are mostly found deep in the lungs.[77] This difference in the site of infection may be part of the reason why the H5N1 strain causes severe viral pneumonia in the lungs, but is not easily transmitted by people coughing and sneezing.[78][79]

Common symptoms of the flu such as fever, headaches, and fatigue are the result of the huge amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (such as interferon or tumor necrosis factor) produced from influenza-infected cells.[2][80] In contrast to the rhinovirus that causes the common cold, influenza does cause tissue damage, so symptoms are not entirely due to the inflammatory response.[81] This massive immune response might produce a life-threatening cytokine storm. This effect has been proposed to be the cause of the unusual lethality of both the H5N1 avian influenza,[82] and the 1918 pandemic strain.[83][84] However, another possibility is that these large amounts of cytokines are just a result of the massive levels of viral replication produced by these strains, and the immune response does not itself contribute to the disease.[85]

Prevention
Vaccination
Vaccination against influenza with an influenza vaccine is often recommended for high-risk groups, such as children and the elderly, or in people who have asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or are immuno-compromised. Influenza vaccines can be produced in several ways; the most common method is to grow the virus in fertilized hen eggs. After purification, the virus is inactivated (for example, by treatment with detergent) to produce an inactivated-virus vaccine. Alternatively, the virus can be grown in eggs until it loses virulence and the avirulent virus given as a live vaccine.[40] The effectiveness of these influenza vaccines are variable. Due to the high mutation rate of the virus, a particular influenza vaccine usually confers protection for no more than a few years. Every year, the World Health Organization predicts which strains of the virus are most likely to be circulating in the next year, allowing pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines that will provide the best immunity against these strains.[86] Vaccines have also been developed to protect poultry from avian influenza. These vaccines can be effective against multiple strains and are used either as part of a preventative strategy, or combined with culling in attempts to eradicate outbreaks.[87]

It is possible to get vaccinated and still get influenza. The vaccine is reformulated each season for a few specific flu strains but cannot possibly include all the strains actively infecting people in the world for that season. It takes about six months for the manufacturers to formulate and produce the millions of doses required to deal with the seasonal epidemics; occasionally, a new or overlooked strain becomes prominent during that time and infects people although they have been vaccinated (as by the H3N2 Fujian flu in the 2003–2004 flu season).[88] It is also possible to get infected just before vaccination and get sick with the very strain that the vaccine is supposed to prevent, as the vaccine takes about two weeks to become effective.[89]

The 2006–2007 season was the first in which the CDC had recommended that children younger than 59 months receive the annual influenza vaccine.[90] Vaccines can cause the immune system to react as if the body were actually being infected, and general infection symptoms (many cold and flu symptoms are just general infection symptoms) can appear, though these symptoms are usually not as severe or long-lasting as influenza. The most dangerous side effect is a severe allergic reaction to either the virus material itself or residues from the hen eggs used to grow the influenza; however, these reactions are extremely rare.[91]

In addition to vaccination against seasonal influenza, researchers are working to develop a vaccine against a possible influenza pandemic. The rapid development, production, and distribution of pandemic influenza vaccines could potentially save millions of lives during an influenza pandemic. Due to the short time frame between identification of a pandemic strain and need for vaccination, researchers are looking at non-egg-based options for vaccine production. Live attenuated (egg-based or cell-based) technology and recombinant technologies (proteins and virus-like particles) could provide better "real-time" access and be produced more affordably, thereby increasing access for people living in low- and moderate-income countries, where an influenza pandemic may likely originate. As of July 2009, more than 70 known clinical trials have been completed or are ongoing for pandemic influenza vaccines.[92] In September 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (the current pandemic strain), and expect the initial vaccine lots to be available within the following month.[93]

In 2011, there has been some research success towards a “universal flu vaccine” that produces antibodies against proteins on the viral coat which mutate less rapidly, and thus a single shot could potentially provide longer-lasting protection.[94][95]

Infection control
Reasonably effective ways to reduce the transmission of influenza include good personal health and hygiene habits such as: not touching your eyes, nose or mouth;[96] frequent hand washing (with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand rubs);[97] covering coughs and sneezes; avoiding close contact with sick people; and staying home yourself if you are sick. Avoiding spitting is also recommended.[98] Although face masks might help prevent transmission when caring for the sick,[99][100] there is mixed evidence on beneficial effects in the community.[98][101] Smoking raises the risk of contracting influenza, as well as producing more severe disease symptoms.[102][103]

Since influenza spreads through both aerosols and contact with contaminated surfaces, surface sanitizing may help prevent some infections.[104] Alcohol is an effective sanitizer against influenza viruses, while quaternary ammonium compounds can be used with alcohol so that the sanitizing effect lasts for longer.[105] In hospitals, quaternary ammonium compounds and bleach are used to sanitize rooms or equipment that have been occupied by patients with influenza symptoms.[105] At home, this can be done effectively with a diluted chlorine bleach.[106]

During past pandemics, closing schools, churches and theaters slowed the spread of the virus but did not have a large effect on the overall death rate.[107][108] It is uncertain if reducing public gatherings, by for example closing schools and workplaces, will reduce transmission since people with influenza may just be moved from one area to another; such measures would also be difficult to enforce and might be unpopular.[98] When small numbers of people are infected, isolating the sick might reduce the risk of transmission.[98]

Treatment
People with the flu are advised to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco and, if necessary, take medications such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu.[109] Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should avoid taking aspirin during an influenza infection (especially influenza type B), because doing so can lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease of the liver.[110] Since influenza is caused by a virus, antibiotics have no effect on the infection; unless prescribed for secondary infections such as bacterial pneumonia. Antiviral medication can be effective, but some strains of influenza can show resistance to the standard antiviral drugs.[111]

The two classes of antiviral drugs used against influenza are neuraminidase inhibitors and M2 protein inhibitors (adamantane derivatives). Neuraminidase inhibitors are currently preferred for flu virus infections since they are less toxic and more effective.[85] The CDC recommended against using M2 inhibitors during the 2005–06 influenza season due to high levels of drug resistance.[112] As pregnant women seem to be more severely affected than the general population by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, prompt treatment with anti-influenza drugs has been recommended.[113] In a November 2009 press conference, the World Health Organization recommended that persons in high risk groups, including pregnant women, children under two, and persons with respiratory problems, begin taking antivirals as soon as they start experiencing flu symptoms.[114] Antivirals include oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
Neuraminidase inhibitors

Antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) and zanamivir (trade name Relenza) are neuraminidase inhibitors that are designed to halt the spread of the virus in the body.[115] These drugs are often effective against both influenza A and B.[116] The Cochrane Collaboration reviewed these drugs and concluded that they reduce symptoms and complications.[117] Different strains of influenza viruses have differing degrees of resistance against these antivirals, and it is impossible to predict what degree of resistance a future pandemic strain might have.[118]
M2 inhibitors (adamantanes)

The antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine block a viral ion channel (M2 protein) and prevent the virus from infecting cells.[46] These drugs are sometimes effective against influenza A if given early in the infection but are always ineffective against influenza B because B viruses do not possess M2 molecules.[116] Measured resistance to amantadine and rimantadine in American isolates of H3N2 has increased to 91% in 2005.[119] This high level of resistance may be due to the easy availability of amantadines as part of over-the-counter cold remedies in countries such as China and Russia,[120] and their use to prevent outbreaks of influenza in farmed poultry.[121][122]

Prognosis

Influenza's effects are much more severe and last longer than those of the common cold. Most people will recover completely in about one to two weeks, but others will develop life-threatening complications (such as pneumonia). Influenza, thus, can be deadly, especially for the weak, young and old, or chronically ill.[40] People with a weak immune system, such as people with advanced HIV infection or transplant patients (whose immune systems are medically suppressed to prevent transplant organ rejection), suffer from particularly severe disease.[123] Other high-risk groups include pregnant women and young children.[124]

The flu can worsen chronic health problems. People with emphysema, chronic bronchitis or asthma may experience shortness of breath while they have the flu, and influenza may cause worsening of coronary heart disease or congestive heart failure.[125] Smoking is another risk factor associated with more serious disease and increased mortality from influenza.[126]

According to the World Health Organization: "Every winter, tens of millions of people get the flu. Most are only ill and out of work for a week, yet the elderly are at a higher risk of death from the illness. We know the worldwide death toll exceeds a few hundred thousand people a year, but even in developed countries the numbers are uncertain, because medical authorities don't usually verify who actually died of influenza and who died of a flu-like illness."[127] Even healthy people can be affected, and serious problems from influenza can happen at any age. People over 50 years old, very young children and people of any age with chronic medical conditions are more likely to get complications from influenza, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus, and ear infections.[89]

In some cases, an autoimmune response to an influenza infection may contribute to the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome.[128] However, as many other infections can increase the risk of this disease, influenza may only be an important cause during epidemics.[128][129] This syndrome has been believed to also be a rare side effect of influenza vaccines. Although one review gives an incidence of about one case per million vaccinations,[130] a large study in China, reported in the NEJM covering close to 100 million doses of vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 "swine" flu found only eleven cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, (0.1%) total incidence in persons vaccinated, actually lower than the normal rate of the disease in China, and no other notable side effects; "The risk-benefit ratio, which is what vaccines and everything in medicine is about, is overwhelmingly in favor of vaccination."[131] Getting infected by influenza itself increases both the risk of death (up to 1 in 10,000) and increases the risk of developing GBS to a much higher level than the highest level of suspected vaccine involvement (approx. 10 times higher by recent estimates).[132][133]

Epidemiology
Seasonal variations
Further information: Flu season

Influenza reaches peak prevalence in winter, and because the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have winter at different times of the year, there are actually two different flu seasons each year. This is why the World Health Organization (assisted by the National Influenza Centers) makes recommendations for two different vaccine formulations every year; one for the Northern, and one for the Southern Hemisphere.[86]

A long-standing puzzle has been why outbreaks of the flu occur seasonally rather than uniformly throughout the year. One possible explanation is that, because people are indoors more often during the winter, they are in close contact more often, and this promotes transmission from person to person. Increased travel due to the Northern Hemisphere winter holiday season may also play a role.[134] Another factor is that cold temperatures lead to drier air, which may dehydrate mucus, preventing the body from effectively expelling virus particles. The virus also survives longer on surfaces at colder temperatures and aerosol transmission of the virus is highest in cold environments (less than 5 °C) with low relative humidity.[135] Indeed, the lower air humidity in winter seems to be the main cause of seasonal influenza transmission in temperate regions.[136][137]

However, seasonal changes in infection rates also occur in tropical regions, and in some countries these peaks of infection are seen mainly during the rainy season.[138] Seasonal changes in contact rates from school terms, which are a major factor in other childhood diseases such as measles and pertussis, may also play a role in the flu. A combination of these small seasonal effects may be amplified by dynamical resonance with the endogenous disease cycles.[139] H5N1 exhibits seasonality in both humans and birds.[140]

An alternative hypothesis to explain seasonality in influenza infections is an effect of vitamin D levels on immunity to the virus.[141] This idea was first proposed by Robert Edgar Hope-Simpson in 1965.[142] He proposed that the cause of influenza epidemics during winter may be connected to seasonal fluctuations of vitamin D, which is produced in the skin under the influence of solar (or artificial) UV radiation. This could explain why influenza occurs mostly in winter and during the tropical rainy season, when people stay indoors, away from the sun, and their vitamin D levels fall.

Epidemic and pandemic spread
s influenza is caused by a variety of species and strains of viruses, in any given year some strains can die out while others create epidemics, while yet another strain can cause a pandemic. Typically, in a year's normal two flu seasons (one per hemisphere), there are between three and five million cases of severe illness and up to 500,000 deaths worldwide, which by some definitions is a yearly influenza epidemic.[143] Although the incidence of influenza can vary widely between years, approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations are directly associated with influenza every year in the United States.[144][145] Roughly three times per century, a pandemic occurs, which infects a large proportion of the world's population and can kill tens of millions of people (see history section). Indeed, one study estimated that if a strain with similar virulence to the 1918 influenza emerged today, it could kill between 50 and 80 million people.[146]
New influenza viruses are constantly evolving by mutation or by reassortment.[22] Mutations can cause small changes in the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens on the surface of the virus. This is called antigenic drift, which slowly creates an increasing variety of strains until one evolves that can infect people who are immune to the pre-existing strains. This new variant then replaces the older strains as it rapidly sweeps through the human population—often causing an epidemic.[147] However, since the strains produced by drift will still be reasonably similar to the older strains, some people will still be immune to them. In contrast, when influenza viruses reassort, they acquire completely new antigens—for example by reassortment between avian strains and human strains; this is called antigenic shift. If a human influenza virus is produced that has entirely new antigens, everybody will be susceptible, and the novel influenza will spread uncontrollably, causing a pandemic.[148] In contrast to this model of pandemics based on antigenic drift and shift, an alternative approach has been proposed where the periodic pandemics are produced by interactions of a fixed set of viral strains with a human population with a constantly changing set of immunities to different viral strains.[149]

History
Etymology
The word Influenza comes from the Italian language meaning "influence" and refers to the cause of the disease; initially, this ascribed illness to unfavorable astrological influences.[150] Changes in medical thought led to its modification to influenza del freddo, meaning "influence of the cold". The word influenza was first used in English to refer to the disease we know today in 1703 by J. Hugger of the University of Edinburgh in his thesis De Catarrho epidemio, vel Influenza, prout in India occidentali sese ostendit.[151] Archaic terms for influenza include epidemic catarrh, grippe (from the French, first used by Molyneaux in 1694 [152]), sweating sickness, and Spanish fever (particularly for the 1918 flu pandemic strain).[153]

Pandemics
The symptoms of human influenza were clearly described by Hippocrates roughly 2,400 years ago.[155][156] Although the virus seems to have caused epidemics throughout human history, historical data on influenza are difficult to interpret, because the symptoms can be similar to those of other respiratory diseases.[157][158] The disease may have spread from Europe to the Americas as early as the European colonization of the Americas; since almost the entire indigenous population of the Antilles was killed by an epidemic resembling influenza that broke out in 1493, after the arrival of Christopher Columbus.[159][160]

The first convincing record of an influenza pandemic was of an outbreak in 1580, which began in Russia and spread to Europe via Africa. In Rome, over 8,000 people were killed, and several Spanish cities were almost wiped out. Pandemics continued sporadically throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, with the pandemic of 1830–1833 being particularly widespread; it infected approximately a quarter of the people exposed.[158]

The most famous and lethal outbreak was the 1918 flu pandemic (Spanish flu pandemic) (type A influenza, H1N1 subtype), which lasted from 1918 to 1919. It is not known exactly how many it killed, but estimates range from 20 to 100 million people.[161][162] This pandemic has been described as "the greatest medical holocaust in history" and may have killed as many people as the Black Death.[158] This huge death toll was caused by an extremely high infection rate of up to 50% and the extreme severity of the symptoms, suspected to be caused by cytokine storms.[162] Indeed, symptoms in 1918 were so unusual that initially influenza was misdiagnosed as dengue, cholera, or typhoid. One observer wrote, "One of the most striking of the complications was hemorrhage from mucous membranes, especially from the nose, stomach, and intestine. Bleeding from the ears and petechial hemorrhages in the skin also occurred."[161] The majority of deaths were from bacterial pneumonia, a secondary infection caused by influenza, but the virus also killed people directly, causing massive hemorrhages and edema in the lung.[163]

he 1918 flu pandemic (Spanish flu pandemic) was truly global, spreading even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. The unusually severe disease killed between 2 and 20% of those infected, as opposed to the more usual flu epidemic mortality rate of 0.1%.[154][161] Another unusual feature of this pandemic was that it mostly killed young adults, with 99% of pandemic influenza deaths occurring in people under 65, and more than half in young adults 20 to 40 years old.[164] This is unusual since influenza is normally most deadly to the very young (under age 2) and the very old (over age 70). The total mortality of the 1918–1919 pandemic is not known, but it is estimated that 2.5% to 5% of the world's population was killed. As many as 25 million may have been killed in the first 25 weeks; in contrast, HIV/AIDS has killed 25 million in its first 25 years.[161]

Later flu pandemics were not so devastating. They included the 1957 Asian Flu (type A, H2N2 strain) and the 1968 Hong Kong Flu (type A, H3N2 strain), but even these smaller outbreaks killed millions of people. In later pandemics antibiotics were available to control secondary infections and this may have helped reduce mortality compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918.[154]

The first influenza virus to be isolated was from poultry, when in 1901 the agent causing a disease called "fowl plague" was passed through Chamberland filters, which have pores that are too small for bacteria to pass through.[169] The etiological cause of influenza, the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses, was first discovered in pigs by Richard Shope in 1931.[170] This discovery was shortly followed by the isolation of the virus from humans by a group headed by Patrick Laidlaw at the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom in 1933.[171] However, it was not until Wendell Stanley first crystallized tobacco mosaic virus in 1935 that the non-cellular nature of viruses was appreciated.

The first significant step towards preventing influenza was the development in 1944 of a killed-virus vaccine for influenza by Thomas Francis, Jr.. This built on work by Australian Frank Macfarlane Burnet, who showed that the virus lost virulence when it was cultured in fertilized hen's eggs.[173] Application of this observation by Francis allowed his group of researchers at the University of Michigan to develop the first influenza vaccine, with support from the U.S. Army.[174] The Army was deeply involved in this research due to its experience of influenza in World War I, when thousands of troops were killed by the virus in a matter of months.[161] In comparison to vaccines, the development of anti-influenza drugs has been slower, with amantadine being licensed in 1966 and, almost thirty years later, the next class of drugs (the neuraminidase inhibitors) being developed.[

Society and culture
Further information: Social impact of H5N1

Influenza produces direct costs due to lost productivity and associated medical treatment, as well as indirect costs of preventative measures. In the United States, influenza is responsible for a total cost of over $10 billion per year, while it has been estimated that a future pandemic could cause hundreds of billions of dollars in direct and indirect costs.[175] However, the economic impacts of past pandemics have not been intensively studied, and some authors have suggested that the Spanish influenza actually had a positive long-term effect on per-capita income growth, despite a large reduction in the working population and severe short-term depressive effects.[176] Other studies have attempted to predict the costs of a pandemic as serious as the 1918 Spanish flu on the U.S. economy, where 30% of all workers became ill, and 2.5% were killed. A 30% sickness rate and a three-week length of illness would decrease the gross domestic product by 5%. Additional costs would come from medical treatment of 18 million to 45 million people, and total economic costs would be approximately $700 billion.[177]

Preventative costs are also high. Governments worldwide have spent billions of U.S. dollars preparing and planning for a potential H5N1 avian influenza pandemic, with costs associated with purchasing drugs and vaccines as well as developing disaster drills and strategies for improved border controls.[178] On 1 November 2005, United States President George W. Bush unveiled the National Strategy to Safeguard Against the Danger of Pandemic Influenza[179] backed by a request to Congress for $7.1 billion to begin implementing the plan.[180] Internationally, on 18 January 2006, donor nations pledged US$2 billion to combat bird flu at the two-day International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza held in China.[181]

In an assessment of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic on selected countries in the Southern Hemisphere, data suggest that all countries experienced some time-limited and/or geographically isolated socio/economic effects and a temporary decrease in tourism most likely due to fear of 2009 H1N1 disease. It is still too early to determine whether the H1N1 pandemic has caused any long-term economic impacts.[182]

Research
Research on influenza includes studies on molecular virology, how the virus produces disease (pathogenesis), host immune responses, viral genomics, and how the virus spreads (epidemiology). These studies help in developing influenza countermeasures; for example, a better understanding of the body's immune system response helps vaccine development, and a detailed picture of how influenza invades cells aids the development of antiviral drugs. One important basic research program is the Influenza Genome Sequencing Project, which is creating a library of influenza sequences; this library should help clarify which factors make one strain more lethal than another, which genes most affect immunogenicity, and how the virus evolves over time.[183]

Research into new vaccines is particularly important, as current vaccines are very slow and expensive to produce and must be reformulated every year. The sequencing of the influenza genome and recombinant DNA technology may accelerate the generation of new vaccine strains by allowing scientists to substitute new antigens into a previously developed vaccine strain.[184] New technologies are also being developed to grow viruses in cell culture, which promises higher yields, less cost, better quality and surge capacity.[185] Research on a universal influenza A vaccine, targeted against the external domain of the transmembrane viral M2 protein (M2e), is being done at the University of Ghent by Walter Fiers, Xavier Saelens and their team[186][187][188] and has now successfully concluded Phase I clinical trials.

A number of biologics, therapeutic vaccines and immunobiologics are also being investigated for treatment of infection caused by viruses. Therapeutic biologics are designed to activate the immune response to virus or antigens. Typically, biologics do not target metabolic pathways like anti-viral drugs, but stimulate immune cells such as lymphocytes, macrophages, and/or antigen presenting cells, in an effort to drive an immune response towards a cytotoxic effect against the virus. Infuenza models, such as murine influenza, are convenient models to test the effects of prophylactic and therapeutic biologics. For example, Lymphocyte T-Cell Immune Modulator inhibits viral growth in the murine model of influenza.[189]

Infection in other animals
Influenza infects many animal species, and transfer of viral strains between species can occur. Birds are thought to be the main animal reservoirs of influenza viruses.[190] Sixteen forms of hemagglutinin and nine forms of neuraminidase have been identified. All known subtypes (HxNy) are found in birds, but many subtypes are endemic in humans, dogs, horses, and pigs; populations of camels, ferrets, cats, seals, mink, and whales also show evidence of prior infection or exposure to influenza.[27] Variants of flu virus are sometimes named according to the species the strain is endemic in or adapted to. The main variants named using this convention are: Bird Flu, Human Flu, Swine Flu, Horse Flu and Dog Flu. (Cat flu generally refers to Feline viral rhinotracheitis or Feline calicivirus and not infection from an influenza virus.) In pigs, horses and dogs, influenza symptoms are similar to humans, with cough, fever and loss of appetite.[27] The frequency of animal diseases are not as well-studied as human infection, but an outbreak of influenza in harbor seals caused approximately 500 seal deaths off the New England coast in 1979–1980.[191] On the other hand, outbreaks in pigs are common and do not cause severe mortality.[27]
Bird flu

Flu symptoms in birds are variable and can be unspecific.[192] The symptoms following infection with low-pathogenicity avian influenza may be as mild as ruffled feathers, a small reduction in egg production, or weight loss combined with minor respiratory disease.[193] Since these mild symptoms can make diagnosis in the field difficult, tracking the spread of avian influenza requires laboratory testing of samples from infected birds. Some strains such as Asian H9N2 are highly virulent to poultry and may cause more extreme symptoms and significant mortality.[194] In its most highly pathogenic form, influenza in chickens and turkeys produces a sudden appearance of severe symptoms and almost 100% mortality within two days.[195] As the virus spreads rapidly in the crowded conditions seen in the intensive farming of chickens and turkeys, these outbreaks can cause large economic losses to poultry farmers.

An avian-adapted, highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 (called HPAI A(H5N1), for "highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of type A of subtype H5N1") causes H5N1 flu, commonly known as "avian influenza" or simply "bird flu", and is endemic in many bird populations, especially in Southeast Asia. This Asian lineage strain of HPAI A(H5N1) is spreading globally. It is epizootic (an epidemic in non-humans) and panzootic (a disease affecting animals of many species, especially over a wide area), killing tens of millions of birds and spurring the culling of hundreds of millions of other birds in an attempt to control its spread. Most references in the media to "bird flu" and most references to H5N1 are about this specific strain.[196][197]

At present, HPAI A(H5N1) is an avian disease, and there is no evidence suggesting efficient human-to-human transmission of HPAI A(H5N1). In almost all cases, those infected have had extensive physical contact with infected birds.[198] In the future, H5N1 may mutate or reassort into a strain capable of efficient human-to-human transmission. The exact changes that are required for this to happen are not well understood.[199] However, due to the high lethality and virulence of H5N1, its endemic presence, and its large and increasing biological host reservoir, the H5N1 virus was the world's pandemic threat in the 2006–07 flu season, and billions of dollars are being raised and spent researching H5N1 and preparing for a potential influenza pandemic.[178]

Swine flu
In pigs swine influenza produces fever, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing and decreased appetite.[200] In some cases the infection can cause abortion. Although mortality is usually low, the virus can produce weight loss and poor growth, causing economic loss to farmers.[200] Infected pigs can lose up to 12 pounds of body weight over a 3 to 4 week period.[200] Direct transmission of an influenza virus from pigs to humans is occasionally possible (this is called zoonotic swine flu). In all, 50 human cases are known to have occurred since the virus was identified in the mid-20th century, which have resulted in six deaths.[201]

In 2009, a swine-origin H1N1 virus strain commonly referred to as "swine flu" caused the 2009 flu pandemic, but there is no evidence that it is endemic to pigs (i.e. actually a swine flu) or of transmission from pigs to people, instead the virus is spreading from person to person.[202][203] This strain is a reassortment of several strains of H1N1 that are usually found separately, in humans, birds, and pigs.[204]


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kebaikan di hari raya

Kemuliaan Hari Aidil Fitri diterangkan oleh Allah di dalam Al-Quran dan oleh Rasulullah di dalam beberapa hadisnya. Oleh itu umat Islam amat digalakkan untuk menghidupkan malam Hari Raya sama ada Hari Raya Puasa atau Hari Raya Korban.
Sehubungan dengan inilah Allah berfirman di dalam Al Quran menerusi ayat 185 surah al-Baqarah yang bermaksud: "Dan hendaklah kamu mencukupkan bilangan (hari terakhir Ramadan 30 hari) dan kamu mengagungkan Allah (bertakbir raya) atas petunjuk-Nya yang dianugerahkan kepada kamu agar kamu menjadi orang-orang yang bersyukur." Kemuliaan Hari Raya juga diterangkan di dalam Hadis seperti sabda Rasulullah s.a.w. yang bermaksud: Daripada Umamah r.a. bahawasanya Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. telah bersabda barang siapa mengerjakan amal ibadah pada malam Hari Raya Aidilfitri dengan mengharapkan keredaan Allah semata-mata hatinya tidak akan mati pada hari kiamat sebagai matinya hati orang-orang yang kafir ingkar pada hari kiamat.
Daripada hadis di atas dapatlah kita membuat kesimpulan bahawa Hari Raya satu perkara yang disyariatkan dalam Islam dan pada Hari Kiamat kelak orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh hatinya hidup bahagia dan gembira kerana berjaya mendapat balasan yang baik dan keredaan Allah azzawajallah hasil daripada amal-amal kebajikan yang mereka kerjakan di dunia seperti berpuasa di bulan Ramadan. Sebaliknya orang yang kufur dan ingkar hatinya mati mereka hampa dan kecewa pada hari itu kerana dimurkai oleh Allah dan mereka ditimpa dengan seburuk-buruk balasan. Terdapat juga hadis-hadis yang lain yang menceritakan tentang menghidupkan malam Hari Raya seperti hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Tabrani r.a. yang bermaksud: "Barang siapa menghayati malam Hari Raya Aidil Fitri dan malam Hari Raya Aidil Adha dengan amal ibadah sedang dia mengharapkan keredaan Allah semata-mata hatinya tidak akan mati seperti hati orang-orang kafir."
Umat Islam digalakkan menyambut Hari Raya Aidil Fitri dengan tahmid sebagai bersyukur kepada Allah bersempena dengan hari yang mulia itu. Ini diterangkan di dalam Al-Quran dan juga di dalam hadis Rasulullah s.a.w. Firman Allah SWT, maksudnya: Dan supaya kamu cukupkan bilangan puasa sebulan Ramadhan dan supaya kamu membesarkan Allah dengan Takbir dan Tahmid kerana kamu telah mendapat petunjukNya dan supaya kamu bersyukur." Daripada hadis pula sebagaimana sabda Rasulullah s.a.w. diriwayatkan oleh Abu Hurairah r.a. maksudnya: Hiasilah Hari Raya kamu dengan Takbir dan Tahmid.
Di dalam hadis yang lain Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda daripada Anas r.a. maksudnya: Hiasilah kedua-dua Hari Raya kamu iaitu Hari Raya Puasa dan juga Hari Raya Korban dengan Takbir, Tahmid dan Taqdis. Ini bermakna, seseorang muslim itu adalah digalakkan agar menghidupkan malam hari raya dengan amalan-amalan yang boleh mendekatkan dirinya kepada Allah bagi menjamin hatinya tidak akan mati pada hari kiamat.
Adalah lebih baik mengemas rumah, menjahit baju yang masih belum siap, menggosok pakaian raya untuk persiapan solat pagi raya bagi membesarkan Allah, menggantung langsir dengan niat mencantikkan rumah, kerana Allah suka kepada yang indah dan cantik, daripada menghabiskan sepanjang malam raya dengan menonton rancangan televisen, apatah lagi rancangan hiburan, filem, seloka Aidilfitri, mendengar lagu raya yang mengasyikkan, kerana tindakan itu sedikit sebanyak boleh menjejas pahala yang kita raih sepanjang bulan Ramadan.
Aktiviti pagi raya
1. Aidilfitri digalakkan bersarapan terlebih dahulu.
2. Mengenakan pakaian raya yang baru (tapi ia bukan satu kemestian) serta berwangi-wangian bagi orang lelaki.
3. Bersegera pergi ke tempat solat, sama ada masjid, surau, dewan terbuka atau di tanah lapang, iaitu dengan melalui jalan lain dari jalan yang dilalui sebelum menunaikan solat.
4. Antara amalan yang patut dilakukan pada Hari Raya Aidilfitri ialah amalan berziarah. Amalan ini adalah bertepatan dengan suruhan agama Islam itu sendiri.
5. Pada pagi Hari Raya, umat Islam yang telah kehilangan saudara-mara akan mengunjungi pusara mereka dan menghadiahkan Surah Al-Fatihah atau bacaan surah Yaasin.
6. Kemudian mereka akan berkunjung ke rumah jiran tetangga, sanak saudara dan rakan taulan.
Ini kerana mereka akan bermaaf-maafan dan melupakan kesilapan yang lampau. Pada asasnya, Hari Raya adalah hari untuk bergembira, bermaaf-maafan, dan hari untuk mengeratkan tali persaudaraan di kalangan umat Islam di samping meraikan kejayaan beribadah kepada Allah.
7. Menceriakan suasana hari raya dengan memberi anak-anak sampul duit raya (sebagai amalan 'idkhal as-surur' iaitu menggembirakan orang lain terutama kanak-kanak.) - mks.
Dicatat oleh Badan Kebajikan Masjid Mohd Nor Al-Bakri
(adila mansor)

Malaysia Independence Day 2011

Year 2011, Malaysia will celebrate it’s 54th Independence Day ( Hari Kemerdekaan Malaysia 2011 ) on celebrated on Wednesday, 31 August 2011. The Malaysia national independence will be celebrated throughout August 2011 and possibly extended to mid-September 2011. Malaysia Independence Day 2011 is a Malaysia public holiday. After last year’s theme of “1 Malaysia Transforming the Nation”, this year Malaysia Independence Day 2011 theme is “1 Malaysia, Transformasi Berjaya, Rakyat Sejahtera” (1 Malaysia, Transformation Success, People Peace)

goggle(adila mansor)

keburukan facebook

1) Leka Bermain Game
Kalau korang perasan, dah makin banyak game baru dalam facebook yang wujud. Kepada yang memang gile dengan game, bila sekali dah terjebak, memang tak boleh nak tinggal dah. Memang dalam kepala asyik ingat game facebook je, pendek kata log in saje facebook, terus bukak game. Dan game ini boleh melekakan kita.
2) Melalaikan
Setuju tak kalau aku cakap facebook ini melalaikan kita? Masakan tidak, bila sampai saje office, on komputer dan terus terjah facebook. Kadang-kadang takde apa pon, nak kata selalu orang private message, tak juga. Nak kata kite ni glamour di facebook, tak juga. Tapi nak juga terjah walaupon takde apa-apa yang menarik. Hingga kite pon tak tau kenapa kite biarkan saje on facebook tu.
3) Memaparkan Gambar Yang Mengaibkan
Tau tak gambar yang mengaibkan itu apa? Gambar yang mengaibkan tu seperti gambar-gambar wanita yang tidak menutup aurat, yang pakai baju seksi-seksi, dedah sana dedah sini, ada juga gambar couple yang menjolok mata, berpeluk-peluk walaupon belum nikah, konon nak tunjuk betapa romantiknya dan loving couplenya pasangan tu. Sebenarnya gambar-gambar ni akan mengaibkan diri sendiri selain menambah biakkan saham dosa kite. Yang paling best tu, siap ada member lain tolong tagkan gambar tersebut kepada member yang lain pula. Wah makin berganda-ganda lah saham tu, dah macam sistem piramid MLM pula.
4) Menghubungkan Kembali Kekasih Lama
Ini memang bahaya. Cukup bahaya kepada yang dah berumahtangga. Kalau berhubung tapi tidak menimbulkan apa-apa perasaan tak mengapalah, tapi bagaimana kalau berhubung dan menimbulkan kembali perasaaan yang pernah berputik satu tika dulu? Siap mengimbau kenangan-kenangan lama lagi tu, tak ke kes naya tu…
5) Luahan Di Wall
Ada pasangan bercinta meluahkan perasaan di wall kepada kekasih. Contoh ayat-ayat seperti “Papa, I love u so much!! Miss u like crazy, mama janji mama takkan tinggalkan papa hingga akhir hayat”, dan si kekasih hati pon membalas, “I love u too mama, papa pon macam tu juga”. Wah dah macam filem hindustan pula. Konon-konon nak bagitau pada satu dunia la yang pasangan ni memang setia dan sehati sejawa. Kalau dah bernikah tu tak heranlah juga, ni baru bercouple. Tak perlulah nak luahkan perasaan tu pada umum, orang tau anda sedang dilamun cinta dengan melihat pada ‘Relationship status’ tu. Lagi satu, malu la sikit dengan golongan yang lebih tua bila membacanya. Contoh seperti adek beradek ke, ipar duai ke, makcik pakcik sedara, sepupu sepapat. Kan ke tak manis tu kan. Bukan apa, setiap percintaan tu belum tentu berakhir dengan perkahwinan. Maka kalau anda beriya-iya menulis sayang sayang di wall, tup tup satu hari hubungan ada masalah dan terputus di tengah jalan, bukan ke malu namanya tu.
Kepada pasangan yang telah berkahwen pula, ada dengan slumbernya bercerita masalah rumahtangga di wall. Tak kurang juga meluahkan rasa ketidakpuashatiannya terhadap suami di wall. Alahai, bukan tak boleh berbincang di rumah, private message ke, atau sms ke, atau email ke, tak perlulah nak cerita semua di wall, dan ini akan membuatkan orang lain membacanya. Secara tak langsung orang luar akan tau masalah dalaman dalam rumahtangga.
6) Kekasih Gelap
Ada juga pasangan yang dah berkahwen mempunyai kekasih gelap di facebook. On facebook semata-mata nak berhubung atau chatting dengan kekasih gelap. Bukan tak tau yang masing-masing telah mempunyai suami atau isteri, tapi tetap juga menjalinkan hubungan dengan alasan sekadar suka-suka. Dan alasan sekadar suka-suka itulah yang menjadikan hubungan rumahtangga menjadi berantakan. Penyudahnya, anak-anak menjadi mangsa.
7) Terjebak Dengan Bisness Online

Ha ini lagi satu masalah. Semakin ramai peniaga online memperkenalkan barangan jualan mereka di laman facebook ini. Dan ini membuatkan golongan-golongan yang boros macam aku ni mudah terpengaruh, lantas terjadinya pembaziran. Kadang-kadang kita tak sedar yang kita order barang itu ini, yerla, kebanyakan produk online ni memang cantik-cantik berbanding dengan yang jual di kedai maka mata pon menjadi rambang. Lebih-lebih lagi ianya tidak memerlukan kos minyak, hanya pilih saje di photo album, order dan bayar secara online. Memang mudah, akan tetapi duit mengalir pon cukup mudah. Ye tak?
Ok setakat ini sajelah yang dapat aku kupas. Kalau ada pendapat yang lain, kita boleh bincangkan di ruangan komen di bawah.
Yang pastinya, setiap keburukan ada juga kebaikannya. Dan semua keburukan ini juga kite boleh mengubahnya kepada kebaikan lantas memberi manfaat yang sebaiknya kepada kita.


Read more: http://intankuterpilih.com/2011/01/keburukan-facebook-yang-perlu-kita-tahu/#ixzz1W8VOAcVW