Final answer:
Influenza virus types vary in severity; Influenza A is the most virulent, B is less virulent, and C is typically mild. Due to the influenza virus's high mutation rate, new vaccines need to be developed each year to combat the anticipated strains. This is critical to minimize the impact of potential pandemics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing Severity of Influenza Virus Types and Vaccine Development
In understanding the coding of confirmed cases of influenza, it's important to differentiate between the types of influenza viruses. Influenza A, B, and C are the three major types, with Influenza A being the most virulent and associated with seasonal pandemics. Type B can cause epidemic outbreaks but is generally less virulent than Type A, and Type C usually causes mild symptoms and rarely leads to epidemics. Because of the rapid mutation of the influenza virus through antigenic drift and antigenic shift, it remains a significant threat to human health, hence new influenza vaccines must be developed annually. These vaccines are tailored to combat the strains predicted to be most prevalent during the upcoming flu season.
The staggering impact of different influenza outbreaks, such as the 2013 H7N9 strain in China, highlights the imperative nature of surveillance and proactive vaccine development by organizations like the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Various antiviral drugs like zanamivir, oseltamivir, and peramivir exist, which can reduce the duration of the disease if taken promptly, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.