Lessons From Influenza Pandemics of the Last 100 Years

Abstract

Seasonal influenza is an annual occurrence, but it is the threat of pandemics that produces universal concern. Recurring reports of avian influenza viruses severely affecting humans have served as constant reminders of the potential for another pandemic. Review of features of the 1918 influenza pandemic and subsequent ones helps in identifying areas where attention in planning is critical. Key among such issues are likely risk groups and which interventions to employ. Past pandemics have repeatedly underscored, for example, the vulnerability of groups such as pregnant women and taught other lessons valuable for future preparedness. While a fundamental difficulty in planning for the next pandemic remains their unpredictability and infrequency, this uncertainty can be mitigated, in part, by optimizing the handling of the much more predictable occurrence of seasonal influenza. Improvements in antivirals and novel vaccine formulations are critical in lessening the impact of both pandemic and seasonal influenza.

Moral outrage in COVID19—Understandable but not a strategy

“…The threat of infectious diseases has been with us since human civilisation. For many decades, scientists have warned us about the threats of future pandemics and zoonotic diseases (Monto & Fukuda 2020). The unpredictability and infrequency of pandemics challenge effective planning.…”

Protecting Mice from H7 Avian Influenza Virus by Immunisation with a Recombinant Adenovirus Encoding Influenza A Virus Conserved Antigens

“…Как видно из данных таблицы 1, адаптированный для размножения в легких мышей вирус способен вызывать заболевание и гибель животных, причем этот эффект является дозозависимым. Титр вируса гриппа ЛД 50 /мл был рассчитан по методу Кербера в редакции Ашмарина [13] и составил 3,9×10 2 .…”

“…-унесла жизни более 50 млн человек [1]. Источником вновь возникающих штаммов, вызывающих пандемии, как правило, являются птицы, а также домашние свиньи, в организме которых возможна реассортация вирусов, циркулирующих как среди людей, так и среди птиц [2]. Так, источником вируса гриппа А H1N1, вызвавшего пандемию в 2009 г., стали свиньи, а пандемичный штамм был реассортантом, содержащим гены птичьего, человеческого и свиного вирусов [3].…”

COVID-19 Comes 40 Years After AIDS - Any Lesson?

“…During the past century, several major epidemics have periodically challenged the world. At the end of World War I, the Spanish influenza killed millions of people and spread worldwide 4 . Since then, other large global viral outbreaks have occurred (Table 1).…”