Influenza of 1918

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Influenza of 1918
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A little bit about the flu

• The flu virus continually changes resulting in a
  new strain almost every year, and a new vaccine.
• There are 3 different types of flu, Influenza A,
  B, and C.
• Influenza A is seen in animals and birds are its
  host.
• Influenza B is found in humans mostly and can
  cause epidemics.
• Influenza C cause mild illness in humans and
  cannot cause epidemics.
• In 1918 it was unknown the flu was a virus and
  everyone believed it was caused by a bacteria.

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A type flu viruses

• Spanish flu (1918-1919). In U.S. killed about
  500,000 people.
• Asian flu (1957-58). In U.S. killed about 70,000
  people.
• Hong-Kong flu (1968-69). In U.S. killed about
  34,000 people.

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How the virus changed through species

• The virus of 1918 is believed to have been a
  combination of an avian flu and a human flu.
  Maybe transmitted by through a pig.
• One type of change is "antigenic drift" which
  happens over time and occurs most every year when
  a new vaccine is needed for the flu.
• The other type of change is called "antigenic
  shift. This change is sudden and creates a new
  subtype of flu that humans are not used to. It
  can spread widely since the population has
  little, if any, protection against it.

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How the virus spread
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What the virus did

• The virus attacked the lungs filling them up with
  blood.
• Most people who died were killed by pneumonia and
  drowned in their own blood.

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Kentucky

• Louisville was one of the worst hit cities during
  the epidemic.
• Not as many people were killed in Louisville as
  in other cities, but population wise Louisville
  was the second worse hit city behind Pittsburg.

• Businesses shut down due to staff being ill.
• Coal mines in Kentucky were shut down.
• Many businesses were forces to close at 630 pm.

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Elderly and the flu vaccine

• Elderly are one of the most effected groups in
  the population by the flu.
• Vaccine protects them from hospitalization when
  contracting the flu and from other serious
  conditions, like pneumonia.
• Really just decreases the chances of death more
  than decreases the chance of catching the flu.

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Anti-Viral Drugs

• Used once contracted the flu
• In the U.S. have amantadine, rimantadine,
  zanamivir, and oseltamivir.
• Both amantadine and rimantadine are used for
  prophylaxis and the treatment of a flu infection
  of the A type.
• Zanamivir and oseltamivir are used to fight
  against influenza A and B types, but are not
  approaved for prophylaxis.
• These drugs are used to decrease the symptoms and
  the amount of time one is ill with the virus.

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Viruses that do not change like influenza

• Mononucleosis is a Epstein-Barr virus which most
  people are exposed to and will have antibodies
  built up which is why younger people get this
  virus.
• Chicken Pox is a Varicella virus and much like
  mono, once you get it you wont get it again.