Timeline of influenza

This is a timeline of influenza, briefly describing major events such as outbreaks, epidemics, pandemics, discoveries and developments of vaccines. In addition to specific year/period-related events, there's the seasonal flu that kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people every year, and has claimed between 340 million and 1 billion human lives throughout history.[1][2]

Big Picture

Year/period Key developments
Prior to 20th centuryLittle is known about influenza during most of history. Although the virus seems to have caused epidemics throughout human history, historical data on influenza are difficult to interpret, because the symptoms can be similar to those of other respiratory diseases.[3][4]
20th CenturyCentury of flu pandemics, starting with the deadly Spanish flu, it's also the period of virus isolation and development of vaccines.
1945-21th centuryInternational health organizations merge, and large scale vaccination campaigns begin.[5]
21th centuryWorldwide accessible databases multiply in order to control outbreaks and prevent pandemics. New influenza strain outbreaks still occur. Efficacy of currently available vaccines is still insufficient to diminish the current annual health burden induced by the virus.[5]

Full timeline

Year/period Type of event Event Geographical location
400 BCEDiscoveryThe symptoms of human influenza are described by Hippocrates.[6][7]
1580OutbreakFirst convincing record of an influenza pandemic in an outbreak which begins in Russia.[4]Russia, Europe, Africa.
1878DiscoveryAvian influenza is recorded for the first time. Originally known as Fowl Plague.[8]Italy
1901BreakthroughFirst isolation of influenza virus, from poultry.[9]
1918-1919CrisisThe Spanish flu (H1N1) pandemic is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters ever, infecting an estimated 500 million people across the globe and claiming between 50 and 100 million lives. This pandemic has been described as "the greatest medical holocaust in history" and may have killed as many people as the Black Death.[10][11] Worldwide; originated in France (disputed)
1931DiscoveryAmerican virologist Richard Shope discovers the etiological cause of influenza in pigs.[12]
1933BreakthroughBritish researchers Wilson Smith, Christopher Andrews, and Patrick Laidlaw are the first to identify the human flu virus by experimenting with ferrets.[13][14]United Kingdom (Medical Research Council)
1945PolicyThe first license to produce an influenza vaccine for civilian use is granted in the United States.[15] U.S.A.
1946Organization (health institute)The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in order to protect public health and safety through the control and prevention of diseases. The CDC will launch campaigns targeting the transmission of influenza, including the H1N1 swine flu.[16]U.S.A.
1947OrganizationThe World Medical Association (WMA) is formed as an international confederation of free professional medical associations. Like the CDC, the WMA will launch Influenza Immunization Campaigns.[17]France, worldwide
1948 Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is established.[18]
1952Organization (Research institute)The WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) is established with the purpose of creating a worldwide network of laboratories in order to collaborate and monitor influenza viruses.[19]Worldwide
1957-1958CrisisAsian Influenza H2N2 pandemic originates in China. 1 to 4 million deaths.[20]Worldwide
1968-1969CrisisHong Kong flu (H3N2) pandemic. Still circulates toward the 21th century. 1 to 4 million deaths.[21]
1976CrisisSwine flu outbreak is identified at U.S. army base in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Four soldiers infected resulting in one death. To prevent a major pandemic, the United States launches a vaccination campaign.[21][22]New Jersey (U.S.A.)
1977CrisisRussian flu (H1N1) epidemic. New influenza strain in humans. Isolated in northern China. A similar strain prevalent in 1947–57 causes most adults to have substantial immunity. This outbreak is not considered a pandemic because most patients are children.[21][22] Russia, China, worldwide
1988OutbreakInfluenza A virus subtype H1N2 is isolated from humans in six cities in China, but the virus does not spread further.[23]China
1990-1996DiscoveryOseltamivir (often referenced by its trademark name Tamiflu) is discovered by Gilead Sciences, using shikimic acid for synthesis. It is widely used in further antiviral campaigns targeting influenza A and B. Included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[24]U.S.A.
1997CrisisHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 (also known as bird flu) is discovered in humans. The first time an influenza virus is found to be transmitted directly from birds to people. Eighteen people hospitalized, six of whom die. No pandemics.[21][25] Hong Kong
1997OutbreakHighly pathogenic Influenza A virus subtype H7N4 strain causes a minor flu outbreak in chicken.[26]Australia
1999OutbreakNew influenza strain (H9N2) in humans. It causes illness in two children in Hong Kong, with poultry being the probable source. No pandemics.[21][22] Hong Kong
2002InfectionAppearance of a new influenza strain (H7N2) in humans. This subtype is one of several sometimes called bird flu virus. No deaths reported.[21]Virginia (U.S.A.)
2003CrisisAppearance of a new influenza strain (H5N1) in humans. Three people infected, one death.[21]China
2003CrisisFirst reported case of H7N7 strain in humans. 88 people infected, one death.[21]Netherlands
2003InfectionH7N2 type infects one person. Fully recovered.[21]New York City (U.S.A.)
2004Organization (scientific project)The Influenza Genome Sequencing Project is launched to investigate influenza evolution by providing a public data set of complete influenza genome sequences from collections of isolates representing diverse species distributions. Funded by the NIAID.[27]
2004InfectionFirst case of type H7N3 in humans. Two people infected, fully recovered.[28]North America
2004InfectionFirst case of type H10N7 in humans. Two children infected.[29]Egypt
2005Organization (campaign)United States President George W. Bush unveils the National Strategy to Safeguard Against the Danger of Pandemic Influenza. US$1 billion for the production and stockpile of oseltamivir are requested after Congress approves $1.8 billion for military use of the drug.[30][31]U.S.A.
2006Conference The International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza is held Beijing. Co-hosted by the Chinese Government, the European Commission and the World Bank. The purpose is to raise funds for international cooperation in the prevention and control of avian and human influenza.[32]Beijing
2008Scientific projectOpenFluDB is launched as a database for human and animal influenza virus. It's used to collect, manage, store and distribute worldwide influenza data.[33]Worldwide
2008Service launchGoogle launches web service Google Flu Trends in order to provide estimates of influenza activity for more than 25 countries to predict outbreaks of flu.[34]Worldwide
2009Crisis New flu virus (H1N1) pandemic, first recognized in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, spreads quickly across the United States and the world, prompting a strong global public reaction. Overseas flights are discouraged from government health bodies.[35] Worldwide, nearly 1 billion doses of H1N1 vaccine are ordered.[36] A total of 74 countries are affected. 18,500 deaths.[22] Worldwide
2012DiscoveryA 2012 meta-analysis finds that flu shots are efficacious 67 percent of the time.[37]
2012Scientific project/controversyAmerican virologists Ron Fouchier and Yoshihiro Kawaoka intentionally develop a strain based on H5N1 for which no vaccine exists, causing outrage in both the media and scientific community.[38][39][40] Netherlands (Erasmus Medical Center) U.S.A. (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
2013CrisisThe A(H7N9) virus subtype, a low pathogenic AI virus, breaks out in China. As of April 11, 2014, the outbreak's overall total reaches 419 people, including 7 in Hong Kong, and the unofficial number of deaths reaches 127.[41][42] China, Vietnam

See also

References

  1. "WHO Europe – Influenza". World Health Organization (WHO). June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  2. "Influenza: Fact sheet". World Health Organization (WHO). March 2003. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  3. Beveridge, W I (1991). "The chronicle of influenza epidemics". History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences. 13 (2): 223–234. PMID 1724803.
  4. 1 2 Potter CW (October 2001). "A History of Influenza". Journal of Applied Microbiology. 91 (4): 572–579. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01492.x. PMID 11576290.
  5. 1 2 Vaccine Analysis: Strategies, Principles, and Control. Springer. 2014. p. 61. ISBN 9783662450246.
  6. Martin, P; Martin-Granel E (June 2006). "2,500-year evolution of the term epidemic". Emerg Infect Dis. 12 (6): 976–80. doi:10.3201/eid1206.051263. PMC 3373038Freely accessible. PMID 16707055.
  7. Hippocrates. "Of the Epidemics, c. 400 BCE". Adams, Francis (transl.). Retrieved 18 October 2006.
  8. "History of Avian Influenza".
  9. "FLU-LAB-NET - About Avian Influenza".
  10. Potter CW (October 2001). "A History of Influenza". Journal of Applied Microbiology. 91 (4): 572–579. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01492.x. PMID 11576290.
  11. "Historical Estimates of World Population". Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  12. Shimizu, K (October 1997). "History of influenza epidemics and discovery of influenza virus". Nippon Rinsho. 55 (10): 2505–201. PMID 9360364.
  13. Smith, W; Andrewes CH; Laidlaw PP (1933). "A virus obtained from influenza patients". Lancet. 2 (5732): 66–68. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)78541-2.
  14. Dobson, Mary. 2007. Disease: The Extraordinary Stories behind History’s Deadliest Killers. London, UK: Quercus.
  15. P. CROVARI; M. ALBERTI; C. ALICINO. "History and evolution of influenza vaccines". Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy.
  16. "CDC".
  17. "Influenza Immunization Campaign".
  18. "Global Health Timeline". Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  19. "Global influenza virological surveillance".
  20. "Influenza Pandemics".
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Timeline of Human Flu Pandemics".
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Pandemic Flu History".
  23. Guo, YJ; Xu, XY; Cox, NJ (1992). "Human influenza A (H1N2) viruses isolated from China". The Journal of general virology. 73 (2): 383–7. doi:10.1099/0022-1317-73-2-383. PMID 1538194
  24. "19th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (April 2015)" (PDF). WHO. April 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  25. "History of Avian Influenza".
  26. WHO
  27. Fauci AS (January 2006). "Pandemic influenza threat and preparedness". Emerging Infect. Dis. 12 (1): 73–7. doi:10.3201/eid1201.050983. PMC 3291399Freely accessible. PMID 16494721.
  28. "CDC - NIOSH Publications and Products - Protecting Poultry Workers from Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) (2008-128)". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  29. "EID Weekly Updates - Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Region of the Americas". Pan American Health Organization. 2004-05-07. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  30. Shannon Brownlee and Jeanne Lenzer (November 2009) "Does the Vaccine Matter?", The Atlantic
  31. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Whitehouse.gov Retrieved 26 October 2006.
  32. "The International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza Is Successfully Held in Beijing".
  33. Robin Liechti1, Anne Gleizes, Dmitry Kuznetsov, Lydie Bougueleret, Philippe Le Mercier, Amos Bairoch and Ioannis Xenarios. "OpenFluDB, a database for human and animal influenza virus". doi:10.1093/database/baq004.
  34. "Google Flu Trends | How". Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  35. "Europeans urged to avoid Mexico and US as swine flu death toll rises".
  36. "How vaccines became big business".
  37. Osterholm, MT; Kelley, NS; Sommer, A; Belongia, EA (January 2012). "Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines: a systematic review and meta-analysis.". The Lancet. Infectious diseases. 12 (1): 36–44. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(11)70295-x. PMID 22032844.
  38. "Scientists condemn 'crazy, dangerous' creation of deadly airborne flu virus".
  39. "Exclusive: Controversial US scientist creates deadly new flu strain for pandemic research".
  40. "U.S. virologists intentionally engineer super-deadly pandemic flu virus".
  41. "Avian influenza".
  42. "Study says Vietnam at H7N9 risk as two new cases noted".
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