According to the World Health Organization (WHO), respiratory infections are the highest disease burden worldwide, and viruses cause 80% of all acute respiratory infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common cold viruses cost Americans an estimated $40 billion annually, while influenza infections cost an estimated $87 billion annually.
Respiratory viruses range in size, shape, virulence, and entry mode into the host cell. While this course aims to discuss respiratory viruses, it is not intended to encompass all respiratory viruses, nor will all the information about them be discussed.
This course is intended to describe seven common respiratory viruses and how they interact with the host. In addition, it discusses the importance of the most frequent types of respiratory viral mutations, testing methods, and disease indications. Finally, it identifies types of vaccines and treatment options available for respiratory viral infections.
