Timeline of influenza

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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 century Little 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 Century Century of flu pandemics, starting with the deadly Spanish flu, it's also the period of virus isolation and development of vaccines.
1945-21th century International health organizations merge, and large scale vaccination campaigns begin.[5]
21th century Worldwide 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
2400 BP Discovery The symptoms of human influenza are described by Hippocrates.[6][7]
1580 Outbreak First convincing record of an influenza pandemic in an outbreak which begins in Russia.[4] Russia, Europe, Africa.
1878 Discovery Avian influenza is recorded for the first time. Originally known as Fowl Plague.[8] Italy
1901 Breakthrough First isolation of influenza virus, from poultry.[9]
1918-1919 Crisis The 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)
1931 Discovery American virologist Richard Shope discovers the etiological cause of influenza in pigs.[12]
1933 Breakthrough British 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)
1945 Policy The first license to produce an influenza vaccine for civilian use is granted in the United States.[15] U.S.A.
1946 Organization (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.
1947 Organization The 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]
1952 Organization (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
1957-1958 Crisis Asian Influenza H2N2 pandemic originates in China. 1 to 4 million deaths.[20] Worldwide
1968-1969 Crisis Hong Kong flu (H3N2) pandemic. Still circulates toward the 21th century. 1 to 4 million deaths.[21]
1976 Crisis Swine 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.)
1977 Crisis Russian 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
1988 Outbreak Influenza A virus subtype H1N2 is isolated from humans in six cities in China, but the virus does not spread further.[23] China
1990-1996 Discovery Oseltamivir (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.
1997 Crisis Highly 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
1997 Outbreak Highly pathogenic Influenza A virus subtype H7N4 strain causes a minor flu outbreak in chicken.[26] Australia
1999 Outbreak New 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
2002 Infection Appearance 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.)
2003 Crisis Appearance of a new influenza strain (H5N1) in humans. Three people infected, one death.[21] China
2003 Crisis First reported case of H7N7 strain in humans. 88 people infected, one death.[21] Netherlands
2003 Infection H7N2 type infects one person. Fully recovered.[21] New York (U.S.A.)
2004 Organization (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]
2004 Infection First case of type H7N3 in humans. Two people infected, fully recovered.[28] North America
2004 Infection First case of type H10N7 in humans. Two children infected.[29] Egypt
2005 Organization (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.
2006 Conference 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
2008 Scientific project OpenFluDB 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
2008 Service launch Google 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
2009 Crisis 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
2012 Discovery A 2012 meta-analysis finds that flu shots are efficacious 67 percent of the time.[37]
2012 Scientific project/controversy American 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)
2013 Crisis The 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

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  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Dobson, Mary. 2007. Disease: The Extraordinary Stories behind History’s Deadliest Killers. London, UK: Quercus.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 21.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ WHO
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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