History of Swine Flu Outbreaks

Epidemics in 1918, 1976 and 2007

Apr 27, 2009 Rosemary E. Bachelor

The present Swine Flu outbreak is partially rooted in history, with large influenza epidemics in 1918, 1976 and earlier.

Swine flu is a carefully watched type of influenza because pigs vary from most recipients, carriers and transmitters of contagious flu strains. Unlike most animals, they can contract human and avian borne influenza, recombine it and then transmit it in a new, more dangerous and more treatment-resistant form.

Flu is always being passed around the human population, but rarely has it reached threatening epidemic proportions.

The 1918 Influenza Epidemic

Called the “Spanish” influenza strain, and classified as pandemic, during 1918 and 1919 it is thought to have infected a third of the world population and caused perhaps as many as 50 million deaths, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, which must have been figuratively holding its breath when it admitted deaths could have been nearly double that because many who died during that period were not actually diagnosed, nor were samples taken for lab testing and identification.

In 1918, causes of human flu and its links to avian and swine influenza were not known.

Ancestral and Descendant Flu Strains

Consider this: “All influenza A pandemics since that time, and indeed almost all cases of influenza A worldwide (excepting human infections from avian viruses), have been caused by descendants of the 1918 virus.” (Taubenberger and Morens)

That 91-year-old virus wasn’t killed. It survives as the “ancestor” of the deadly descendants being grappled with today. Indeed, research in the 1930s found its offspring in both pigs and humans and concluded it was related to widespread flu epidemics in 1847 and 1889.

The 1976 Influenza Epidemic

In 1976, an Army recruit at Fort Dix, NJ, complained of feeling tired and weak. He died the next day (Feb. 5) and four other soldiers were soon hospitalized. Health officials attributed the death to swine flu and said the current flu strain was closely related to that of the 1918 epidemic.

Public health officials panicked and urged President Gerald Ford to act. About 24% of the U. S. population was vaccinated. The largest casualty, however, was approximately 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome tied to an immunopathological reaction to the vaccine. There were 25 associated deaths from severe pulmonary complications.

The Present Swine Flu Threat

There was an outbreak of swine flu in the Philippines in 2007. The National Meat Inspection Service there raised a hog cholera red alert warning for the Manila region, then for five regions of Luzon after the disease spread to backyard pig farms.

The strain involved in the present 2009 outbreak involves a virus similar to that found in U.S. pigs since 1999, but there are also resemblances to versions present in European swine. One theory believes Asian and European strains traveled to Mexico in migratory birds, or in people, then combined with North American strains in Mexican pig factory farms before being transmitted to Mexican farm workers.

It’s hard to believe but, according to an April 22 statement by the U.S. Center for Disease Control, there is no national surveillance system in place to determine what viruses are circulating in U.S. pigs.

Check here for an update on the current swine flu.

Companion articles list resources for dealing with swine flu, including making a personal plan in case someone in close contact is diagnosed with swine flu, and common questions, with answers, about the current swine flu epidemic.

Sources: Taubenberger, J.K, and Morens, David M., 1918 Influenza: the Mother of all Pandemics (See this article at CDC website)

Kirby, David, Swine Flu Outbreak – Nature Biting Back at Industrial Animal Production?, The Huffington Post, 26 April 2009

The copyright of the article History of Swine Flu Outbreaks in General Medicine is owned by Rosemary E. Bachelor. Permission to republish History of Swine Flu Outbreaks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Factory Farm Pigs & Workers Transmit Virus

Pigs, People and Swine Flu

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23 Comments

Comments

May 12, 2009 8:57 AM

Guest :

how can you prevent getting enfected

May 19, 2009 10:08 AM

Guest :

how was the first person to die of the outbreak

May 28, 2009 8:51 AM

Guest :

where has it spred locally

May 28, 2009 9:04 AM

Guest :

Are there any special forums where I can ask about swine flu that you kno of?

May 28, 2009 12:17 PM

Guest :

the first person to die in the US was a 23 month old baby

Jun 2, 2009 8:43 AM

Guest :

i love swine flu hear pigy pigy pigy

Aug 10, 2009 11:23 PM

Guest :

To get out from this disease swine flu .All the population should be given vacine to prevent from this.Jasmin

Aug 30, 2009 8:07 PM

Guest :

Common Sense the Bible and every other Major religion Books warns us against eating pig they were create as wild animals to clean the land. Pigs eat human and other animals. In the early days they were use to cast of demon. The demons went from human to pigs. Try this get a piece of Pig meat aka Pork pour rum on it and watch the worms raise to the top. Just stop raising and eating pigs simple.

Aug 30, 2009 9:00 PM

Guest :

guys theres no vaccine from this.. the introduce vaccine was only for a simple flu not for the prevention of AH1N1 virus.

Sep 22, 2009 4:41 PM

Guest :

swine flue found in which country

Sep 27, 2009 9:40 AM

Guest :

what is that question about ??
' What is 9+9? '

Sep 28, 2009 1:20 PM

Guest :

The comment about the pigs being demon pocessed and we eating pigs is really ignorant.. first swine flu is not transmited ny eating pigs but by getting exposed to the virus, normally by getting in contact with someone who is affected. The only way to prevent it is to keep the simple hygiene rules: Wash your hands often, Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose or mouth, Maintain healthful habits — get ample sleep and exercise, drink fluids, eat well.

Oct 3, 2009 3:44 PM

Guest :

wierd thing is that a flu virus can go decades in between with no cases confirmed then resurface years later. you think that it would no longer be the same virus if it stopped for such a time it would either go extinct or most likely mutate and be another form but not truely the original H1N1

Oct 4, 2009 10:10 PM

Guest :

According to my english proffesor, swine flu is less dangerous than a seasonal flu if the person as a healthy immune system, reason why in Mex. lots of people did not survive. She advised not to take the vaccine by the simple fact that it has not been tested,, not only that, flu vaccines contain mercury, a toxin known to cause damage to the body. Research people research,, don't just take the vaccine.

Oct 4, 2009 10:11 PM

Guest :

According to my english proffesor, swine flu is less dangerous than a seasonal flu if the person as a healthy immune system, reason why in Mex. lots of people did not survive. She advised not to take the vaccine by the simple fact that it has not been tested,, not only that, flu vaccines contain mercury, a toxin known to cause damage to the body. Research people research,, don't just take the vaccine.

Oct 10, 2009 9:23 PM

Guest :

I'm going to have to say that given the choice between possible bodily harm done by mercury as compared to dying from the flu because more and more people are becoming infected i am going to choose to take the vaccine and then switch to eating salads instead of mcdonalds for a week to make up for the damage to my "Health"

Oct 15, 2009 9:35 AM

Guest :

Okay everyone is saying get the vaccine but if you actually read the article above you would see that anyone would be stupid to get this vaccine/at least the first round of it as it killed many who took it in 1976. Why would someone take a vaccine that could do more harm than good. I refuse to be a guinea pig!!!!

Oct 20, 2009 3:41 PM

Guest :

I took the swine back in 1976 without any side effects other than a sore arm. I've been hearing rumors that if you received it once you don't need it again would like some feedback on this.

Oct 21, 2009 3:43 PM

Guest :

who is the author of this article?? Need it for citation

Oct 21, 2009 6:16 PM

Guest :

Check out what happened in 1918 in the USA and rest of the world

Oct 24, 2009 3:02 PM

Guest :

Half of you people who are commenting on this ARE ignorant swine! There is a new vaccine for swine flu, all countries are getting outbreaks now, you don't get swine flu from eating pork, the new vaccine is not the same vaccine that was given in the 70's, and if you want to avoid the mercury toxicity of the vaccine then get the nasal mist vaccine since it doesn't have the preservative in it which is what the mercury is from, the virus has mutated and isn't exactly the same as previous virus's, and it can help to be prevented by simply washing you hands and covering your mouth with something other than your hands when you cough or sneeze. Morons...

Nov 5, 2009 3:35 PM

Guest :

Don't worry too much about swine flu. It is really very similar to seasonal, or "the regular" flu and when treated properly is really quite harmless. If you do suspect that you are sick with it just do what you would normally do - drink lots of fluids, rest, stay away from other people, wash your hands - and you'll be better in no time. A lot of the people who have gotten it that I have seen get better within a week or sometimes even three days.

The reason people are dying from the swine is not just because of getting sick with it. Usually they die because afterwards their bodies are a little weak, particuarly in the lungs, and get phenomia. You can look up how to protect yourself from that on you're own. I've never had it so I have no idea. Also, remember that tons of people die from the regular flu every year, and the chances of this one mutating and breaking out again are very slim.

Dec 1, 2009 3:34 PM

Guest :

oink oink :P

23 Comments