The Amazing FLU!

It starts off with just one simple virus cell entering your body, then ends up with you getting very sick, and sometimes dying. The flu spreads very fast but the immune system has to be faster to catch the viruses. There is a cell that guides the virus down to the control center so it makes more.

This video was so realistic that it was quite disturbing, even though I learned about the flu. I think these graphics were a little too good.

So now after you have watched this video, you should think twice about covering you nose when you sneeze and always wash your hands.

Also, read Anya's story about the cat that caught the swine flu and what humans can do to avoid catching spreading the flu.

Photo and video credit: NPR.org

The Kitty with Swine Flu and Tips on How to Stay Healthy

The 13-year-old kitty who got swine flu. Now what do you think about that? This Iowa kitty caught the swine flu and is still recovering. The kitty caught the swine flu from people.

In 1004 the big cats from a zoo in Thailand. 147 tigers died and 2 rare leopards died probably from raw infected chicken meat. In 2006 a cat in Germany died of H5N1. Millions of birds have died of H5N1.

For humans the strangest thing is the vaccination for swine flu goes through your nose. Kids under 9 have to have a booster shot one month after the vaccination. If someone has asthma or other health issues they have to get a shot instead.

You can stay healthy just by washing your hands, you can stay healthy by taking vitamins, and you also should get all your shots.

Listen to this audiofile from the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control, about what kids and their families can do to keep healthy.

Read Zack's story about how the flu attacks

How a Virus Spreads

Student Assignment: Zack

Watch this NPR video about flu attacks. Then write a brief story about how the flu spreads.

• Include the five W's of a good news story.
• What surprised you most about how the flu spreads?
• What did you think of the graphics in the video and the video itself?
• Include a link to the video
• Embed an image -- perhaps a screen grab -- from the video.
• Remember to include source credits.

Kitty Caught the Swine (Flu)

Student Assignment: Anya

Read this story on NPR about how a pet cat caught the swine flu. The cat is recovering, but write a news story about the cat and how they can indeed catch the flu from humans.

After you write about the cat, tell humans how they too can avoid the flu. Listen to and link to this audiocast from the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control). Also, you can scroll to the bottom of this page for tips for older kids.

• Include a link to the NPR story (mention your source).
• Include a photo of the cat.
• Link to or embed the audiocast for little kids. (Have Ms. Moorhead help embed the audio.)
• Link to information for older kids and parents.