GG231 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: 1918 Flu Pandemic, Aids, Influenza A Virus Subtype H5N1
Document Summary
Gg231 lesson 20 and 200 million birds have been destroyed spanish flu. In 1918-1919 the spanish flu killed 40 million people or five times as many as in world war 1. It was globally spread by soldiers travelling through europe to north america. Mortality among us soldiers was about 20 percent. It was highest in cities at 28 percent. It mainly targeted the young adult age group with few causalities in the elderly and young. 99 percent of deaths were in young adults younger then 65. The spread of rodents completing a cycle of bacillus spread from fleas to rats and then to humans. Characterized by swelling of lymph nodes, infection and pneumonia leading to high fever, vomiting, bleeding, and finally death. Did not reach level of pandemic for centuries. The first certain pandemic known as justinian"s plague was recorded in the 6th century ad. Between 542 and 546 ad epidemics in asia, africa and europe claimed nearly 100,000,000.
