Why are health officials concerned about the outbreak of H1N1 Novel Influenza Virus?
When flu viruses mix genes with one another, they can take on new forms. New flu viruses are harder for the human immune system to defend against. With little or no opposition from the immune resistance, the virus can grow quickly and invade many tissues and organs. They may also set off a harmful immune overreaction in the body, called a “cytokine storm,” that may be lethal in itself. While we are currently seeing mild cases in Minnesota, viruses are unpredictable and can change as they spread.
