How are some viruses like influenza able to mutate so quickly? What allows that to happen?

Question

How is it that viruses can mutate so fast relative to other species?

In: 1

Answer 1

Trillions are multiplying all the time, and you only need one to have an advantage over the immune system to relocate and spread in a population.

So every year the flu evolves to a new version because a beneficial mutation developed which couldn’t be combatted by the existing immune response or vaccines.