Like so many dangerous things in nature, influenza viruses were beautiful, covered with protein spikes called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), which functioned like a pirate boarding party. The hemagglutinin fastened onto a cell like a grappling hook and plunged viral particles into the cell. Once inside, the virus used the cell’s energy to replicate itself thousands of times. As the newly hatched viruses budded from the cell, the neuraminidase protein cut them loose. Within a few hours of exposure, the victim became infectious, releasing half a million virus particles into the air
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