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‘Spanish’ Influenza 1918-20

‘Spanish’ Influenza 1918-20. Influenza – a pathogenic virus. annual (winter) outbreaks occasional pandemics e.g. Asian flu (1957/8), Hong Kong flu (1968/9). Seasonal (“normal”) flu. “Spanish” flu - origins.

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‘Spanish’ Influenza 1918-20

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  1. ‘Spanish’ Influenza1918-20

  2. Influenza – a pathogenic virus • annual (winter) outbreaks • occasional pandemics • e.g. Asian flu (1957/8), Hong Kong flu (1968/9)

  3. Seasonal (“normal”) flu

  4. “Spanish” flu - origins • apparent primary case – Kansas, March 1918 – but probably came from ChinaviaEurope • highly virulent strain appeared in August 1918 – the main killer • pathogen – H1N1 influenza virus • probably mutated and crossed to humans from birds, maybe via pigs

  5. Spread in USA

  6. Global spread (assumes Chinese origin)

  7. Why ‘Spanish’ flu? • wartime censorship in USA/Europe • Spain not involved – free reporting of massive mortality • disease did NOT come from Spain!

  8. Symptoms • sudden onset of joint pain, coughing and sneezing • rapid deterioration – death within hours/days in some cases • pneumonia-like symptoms and internal bleeding • purplish sputum filled lungs

  9. Why was it so deadly? • recent research (2007) on frozen virus from Arctic victims • cytokine-storm – deadly immune system positive feedback loop • the young were FAR more vulnerable than to ‘normal’ flu

  10. Age-mortality pattern

  11. Global impact • 20% global morbidity • 2.5-5% of all humans killed within two years • death toll – 50-100 million • 250,000 in UK alone • 7 million in India • but within 18 months – gone…

  12. Could “Spanish” flu return? • yes – most people are not immune to mutant H1N1 • more likely – emergence of a new strain • H5N1? “Bird flu”

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