Astrovirus

Heyhey
My name is Astrovirus.
Astroviridae is my family.

I have star-like points that gave me my astronomical name.
I move around through fecal-oral transmission.
I love kids, daycare workers and soldiers.
I also like the elderly and people with poor immune systems.
I cause gastroenteritis with diarrhoea, pain and vomiting.
I am milder than my friends Norovirus and Rotavirus.
I won't dehydrate you as much.

Adenoviruses

Hey, I'm Adenovirus.
I'm from the Adenoviridae family.
I have many special talents.

In the lungs I cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
I hang with infants and soldiers.
In the eyes I give you a contagious conjunctivitis.
You can also get 'swimming pool conjunctivitis' from me.
I can cause gastroenteritis, especially in kids.
They have fever, vomiting and diarrhoea.

I also like the urinary tract.
I can cause acute haemorrhagic cystitis in boys.
I may play a role in coeliac disease and intersusseption.
Plus I am sometimes seen in myocarditis.

Phew! I'm very busy.

Rotavirus

Hi
My name is Rotavirus
I'm from the Reoviridae family.

I am the most common cause of gastroenteritis in kids.
I love children under 4 four year old.
I am biggest in the colder seasons.

I cause diarrhoea.
I also give the kids fever, nausea and vomiting.
I'm very common, but don't let that fool you.
My diarrhoea can be severe.
I can kill if I'm not looked after.

Norovirus

Hi there.
My name is Norovirus
I'm a caliciviridea family virus.
I used to be called Norfolk virus, after visiting the city of Norfolk.

I cause gastroenteritis.
I make people nauseous and sick.

I am passed feaco-orally.
I am also carried in food, especially seafood like oysters.
I am busiest during the winter.
I love places like schools, nursing homes and hospitals.

Influenza: 2009 'Swine' Flu

Hi, I'm Swine.
Or pig flu.
Or H1N1 Flu.
I'm an H1N1 Type A Influenza virus.

I was first found in humans in Mexico
I started in April.
I am in almost every country now.

I can pass between people.
I am in the news all the time now.
I'm very famous.

Influenza: 2003 Bird flu

Hi, I'm Bird or Avian flu,
But I'm not the only bird flu!
People called me that when they found me in people.

I was first noticed in 2003, around Thailand.
Many birds were killed to try to stop my spread.
So far, I have been found in about 400 people.
I killed over 200 of them.

I don't usually move from person to person.
Some people think I have started to.

I used to be in the news a lot.
People don't about me as much anymore.

Influenza: 1968 Hong Kong Flu

Hi, I'm Hong Kong flu.
I started out as my 1957 friend.
In 1968 I went through antigen shift,
I then became H3N2 and spread.
I moved from China to Hong Kong.
I lasted for 2 years.

I was milder than my earlier flu friend.
Not as many people died.
I also came from mixing of human and bird strains.