What Is Flu B?
6. How Does Flu B Differ from the Other Flu Types?
Among the four flu viruses, flu D is the only one that does not affect humans, as it is only present in cattle. Flu C is found in pigs and people. This type is less severe than A or B, so symptoms are mild or non-existent, and it is not the cause of flu pandemics. Flus A and B are similar in terms of indicators, as both cause body, stomach and respiratory symptoms. The biggest difference between the two of them is flu B usually affects people later in the season than flu A, as the B type normally appears in the spring.
Flu A has almost 200 subtypes, and the strains change more frequently than for B. The A virus is also more common than B, although this is not the case every year. The B virus causes more severe infections in younger children.
Advertisement
