Spanish Influenza Worldwide Outbreak 1918

[Michael H. Standart]

From Global Security.org:

One year on, swine flu pandemic still a threat – Russian experts

MOSCOW, June 11 (RIA Novosti) - The swine flu pandemic, which claimed over 18,000 lives worldwide, remains a threat for Russia, but experts believe that Russia's response to the deadly virus was effective.

Friday marks a year since the World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic with over 28,000 laboratory confirmed cases of the A/H1N1 strain in 74 countries. At that moment, the virus claimed the lives of 114 people.

More at http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/news/2010/06/sec-100611-rianovosti01.htm

Comment: So, the H1N1 virus hasn't gone away but at least a lot of the hype and hysteria has.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From MSNBC:

Expired swine flu shots amount to $260 million loss

ATLANTA – About a quarter of the swine flu vaccine produced for the U.S. public has expired – meaning that a whopping 40 million doses worth about $260 million are being written off as trash.

"It's a lot, by historical standards," said Jerry Weir, who oversees vaccine research and review for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

More at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38046491/ns/health-cold_and_flu/

 

[Michael H. Standart]

From Global Security.org:

WHO Declares H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic Over

The World Health Organization has declared an end to the H1N1 swine flu pandemic. In making the announcement, WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan said the new H1N1 virus has largely run its course and the world is now moving into the post-pandemic period.

Dr. Chan says the world is no longer in phase 6 of the influenza pandemic alert. She says the past year has been long and full of hard work.

More at http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/news/2010/08/sec-100810-voa02.htm

 

[Triffy]

Dear Encyclopedia Titanica Posters,

I have a book about the Spanish Flu epidemic, and it's a fairly recent book, too.

I was only able to see one PBS special about that epidemic, but it was an interesting show. I'm still wishing that "Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen" had been broadcast in the US., and that the TV movie "1918" was more available, because both of those shows deal with the impact of the Spanish Flu epidemic.

I don't know anybody from my family who had Spanish Flu (OR Swine Flu, for that matter).

Thank you in advance for your replies.