• ESWI ORGANIZATION
  • WEBINAR
  • ESWI INFLUENZA CONFERENCES
  • INFLUENZA DIABETES COMMUNITY
  • INFLUENZA KNOWLEDGE CENTER
  • ESWI TV
Knowledge center
  • Influpedia
  • Misconceptions
    • Q&A Book on influenza
    • Misconceptions game
      • Flu Shot
      • Common cold
      • Not desirable
      • Side effects
      • Muscular pain
      • Immunity
      • Just be ill
      • Sinus problems
      • 10 years
      • Burden
      • One in four
      • Underlying illness
  • Policy & Recommendations
  • Search
  • Menu
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Pandemics in the 20th century

Pandemics in the 20th century

July 9, 2014/in Pandemic influenza /by studioplum_eswi

When a new influenza virus appears, against which the human population has no immunity, a pandemic may occur. This happened in 1918 (the “Spanish flu”, caused by an H1N1 subtype), in 1957 (the “Asian flu” caused by an H2N2 subtype) and in 1968 (the “Hong Kong flu”, caused by an H3N2 subtype). Of all pandemics, the one that began in 1918 is generally regarded as the most deadly disease event in human history. At least 40 million and likely closer to 100 million deaths worldwide have been attributed to the virus, most of them occurring in the 16-week period between September and December 1918. The virus struck hardest in the young and healthy, where their rapid immune response actually became their downfall. Though the 1918 pandemic has been the most dramatic example of the killing potential of influenza, there have been two other pandemics in the last 100 years. In 1957, an H2N2 virus appeared in China. This “Asian flu” quickly swept through the population, replacing the previously-circulating H1N1 virus and killing 1-4 million people worldwide. Similarly, in 1968, an H3N2 virus emerged from Hong Kong to replace the H2N2 virus. This pandemic resulted in 1-2 million deaths. The H1N1 serotype re-surfaced in 1977, and currently, H3N2, H1N1 and reassortant H1N2 viruses are circulating in the human population.

thumbnail of Pandemics_of_the_20th_century

Pandemics of the 20th century

Tags: H1N1, immunity, influenza, pandemic
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share by Mail

Categories

  • Vaccines
    (26)
  • Pandemic threats
    (5)
  • Pandemic influenza
    (9)
  • Avian influenza
    (5)
  • The H1N1 Pandemic
    (6)
  • FluFaq
    (9)
  • Podcasts
    (2)
  • Press releases
    (3)
  • Infographics
    (3)
  • Antiviral drugs
    (5)
  • The influenza virus
    (7)
  • Seasonal influenza
    (11)
care elderly epidemic H1N1 H5N1 health immunity influenza Mexican flu pandemic transmission vaccination vaccine

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Quick links

  • ESWI Organization
  • Eswi Influenza Conferences
  • ESWI TV
  • Annual Influenza Diabetes meeting
© Copyright - ESWI - made by Studio Plum
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
How do pandemics Occur Vaccination during a pandemic
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

ESWI uses cookies on www.eswi.org (the "Service"). By using the Service, you consent to the use of cookies.

Our Cookies Policy explains what cookies are, how we use cookies, how third-parties we may partner with may use cookies on the Service, your choices regarding cookies and further information about cookies.

What are cookies:
Cookies are small pieces of text sent by your web browser by a website you visit. A cookie file is stored in your web browser and allows the Service or a third-party to recognize you and make your next visit easier and the Service more useful to you.

Cookies can be "persistent" or "session" cookies.

How ESWI uses cookies:
When you use and access the Service, we may place a number of cookies files in your web browser.
We use cookies for the following purposes: to enable certain functions of the Service, to provide analytics and to store your preferences.
We use both session and persistent cookies on the Service and we use different types of cookies to run the Service.

Third-party cookies:
In addition to our own cookies, we may also use various third-parties cookies to report usage statistics of the Service.

What are your choices regarding cookies:
If you'd like to delete cookies or instruct your web browser to delete or refuse cookies, please visit the help pages of your web browser.
Please note, however, that if you delete cookies or refuse to accept them, you might not be able to use all of the features we offer, you may not be able to store your preferences, and some of our pages might not display properly.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, you cannot refuse them without impacting how our site functions. You can block or delete them by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visist to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Accept settingsHide notification only