Influenza pandemic

Avian Influenza A viruses present a unique challenge to public health as a result of their rapid evolution. Since the beginning of the 20th century, there have been five IAV pandemics, including the 1918 pandemic, which is estimated to have been responsible for 50-100 million deaths worldwide (Taubenberger & Morens, 2006). Each major influenza pandemic has been associated with the appearance of a new subtype circulating in humans. Additionally, particularly virulent pandemic strains and in particular the 1918 strain tend to attenuate during the course of the pandemic, likely a result of adaptation to humans (Taubenberger & Morens, 2006). However, the precise mechanism for this is poorly defined (Qi et al., 2012). A number of specific mutations…

The Relationship Between World War I and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919 War and disease have been intertwined throughout history as human pathogens, weapons and armies have met on the battlefield. 1914-1919 marked the cruelest war in the chronicles of the human race preceded by the world’s deadliest unspoken pandemic. The aftermath of World War I proved so profound in their consequences that the influenza virus remained a blur in the public’s memory. Instead, focus was shifted towards the…

The Challenges of Preventing an Influenza Pandemic on Populations of Developing Countries One of the most common illnesses is influenza. It is a contagious viral infection that usually affects the respiratory passages, causes severe symptoms, and can occur in an epidemic. An epidemic is the slow spread of an infectious disease to a large number of people in a population within a short period of time (Wikipedia). A pandemic is an epidemic outbreak of an infectious disease that can spread through…

Influenza is one of the major respiratory virus that causes nearly annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. Influenza epidemics generally occur in the winter months in the Northern hemisphere and May-September in the Southern hemisphere (Cox et al, 2004). This virus belongs to the genus Orthomyxovirus in the family of Orthomyxoviridae. Influenza A viruses are enveloped RNA virus with eight RNA segments that encodes for upto 11 viral genes ( Lamb &Krug ,2001, Fields virology, 4th edt. ).The…

Many people think of Influenza, also known as the flu, as a common cold or a stomach bug that will pass over in the matter of a day. Yet true influenza is a specific category of viruses that can be very dangerous and many people tend to underestimate it. When it comes to the flu there are many aspects surrounding it. This includes historical outbreaks of the virus, the causes of worldwide pandemics, and ways the virus may be prevented. There are three main types of this virus. “All three types…

The influenza virus was infecting its hosts long before the discovery of viruses in the late 1800’s. The longevity of the virus can be attributed to its ability to quickly mutate its genome, which consists of only eight negative-sense RNA segments. These small mutations allow the virus to rapidly evolve. In fact, approximately every twenty to thirty years the virus evolves into a “super virus” capable of causing significant pandemics (Webster, 2014). The influenza A virus is the envelope virus…

The influenza pandemic of 1918 was a devastating period in both New Zealand and world history. Cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history and responsible for more deaths than World War I, this influenza pandemic resulted in anywhere from 20 to 40 million deaths worldwide (Billings 1997:). The effect it had on New Zealand history was catastrophic, killing nearly 8,500 (Rice). Perhaps the most notable discrepancy in effect that the pandemic had on New Zealand population was…

article I have chosen discusses the Spanish influenza Pandemic that occurred in 1918. This pandemic had a detrimental effect on not just a continent, but the entire world. This virus killed an estimated 20 to 50 million people and even the healthiest people were infected. The Spanish Influenza is said to have the highest death rate of the strains. The life expectancy in the United States dropped ten years during this time, due to the rising death rate in healthy young adults brought on by the…

In the fall of 1918, World War I was winding down and peace was on the horizon. US involvement in this Great War and its success in defeating Germany in the war greatly increased its national prestige among the countries, especially those in Europe. However, with the end of World War I, a deadly virus started to spread within the country, killing more people than during World War I. The influenza pandemic had disrupted US economy, in terms of gross annual production and loss of businesses, and…

called an influenza pandemic. According to the CDC, an influenza pandemic is a new virus that is different from any influenza seen and effects the entire globe. Additionally, due to its constant changing it is very easy for an animal influenza to change into a human effecting one (“Influenza” (Flu)). Therefore, it is very difficult to treat. An influenza virus is one that attacks the respiratory system which results an individuals coughing and sneezing. Additionally,…