What are Influenza Type A Flu and Type B Flu?

When it comes to the flu, not all types are created equal. You’ve probably heard that there are a few different types of the flu. According to the CDC, there are three types of influenza viruses: influenza A, influenza B and influenza C.

Influenza A viruses are the most harmful, as they can cause severe disease. Wild aquatic birds are often the hosts for a large variety of influenza A viruses. Sometimes these viruses are transmitted from bird to human and can cause devastating outbreaks. Some of the subtypes of influenza A that have caused the largest number of known human deaths are:^{14, 15}

• H1N1, which caused Spanish Flu in 1918 and Swine Flu in 2009¹
• H2N2, which caused Asian Flu in 1957²
• H3N2, which caused Hong Kong Flu in 1968³
• H5N1, which caused Bird Flu in 2004⁴

Influenza B almost exclusively infects humans and is less common than influenza A. Flu type B also mutates about two to three times more slowly than influenza A. Because humans are the natural host of influenza B, pandemics generally do not occur with influenza B viruses.²²

The good news is most people will recover from the flu on their own. If you have a severe case of the flu, you should see your healthcare provider. Not sure if you have the flu? A good indication of whether or not you have the flu is if a thermometer indicates you have a fever.

While over-the-counter medications cannot cure the flu, they can help ease your symptoms while you wait for it to run its course.

If you’re suffering from a sore throat, headache, cough, fever, runny nose, or minor aches and pains, NyQuil Cold & Flu and DayQuil Cold & Flu are both good options since they contain a pain reliever/fever reducer and cough suppressant. If you’re suffering from more symptoms, try NyQuil SEVERE Cold & Flu, which also contains a decongestant, and DayQuil SEVERE Cold & Flu, which has an expectorant to help loosen congestion in your chest. Soon enough, you’ll be on the road to recovery.

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