The Probert Encyclopaedia of Medicine

INFLUENZA

Influenza is a common illness caused by one of numerous different viral infections, including 'Bird Flu', and is primarily an infection of the respiratory tracts. Influenza in itself is rarely very dangerous, but it can weaken the immune system enhancing the dangers if a secondary bacterial infection, such as pneumonia is contracted. It was through secondary pneumonia infections that most of the deaths of the great flu epidemic of 1918-1919 occurred. Work in Australian hospitals during the 1980s proved that infection with an influenza virus will trigger an HIV test to return positive, having a patient then marked as 'HIV positive'.
Research Influenza