Asian Flu

From ArticleWorld

Originating in China in 1957, the Asian Flu went on to spread around the world until a vaccine was developed to combat the virus, causing it to recede in 1958. It was the second most deadly epidemic of the 20th century after the Spanish Flu, which killed more that 50 million people in 1918.

Easily mutable

The Asian Flu is a type of avian influenza caused by a type A virus, which is one hosted by birds but capable of infecting humans and mammals. Its genetic code is based on RNA rather that DNA, and so mutates quickly, resulting in a virus in one species which can cross over and infect other species. The virus spreads through the air and manure. It is not thought to survive in cooked meat, but could also be passed on by raw contaminated food, water, equipment, or clothing.

Hong Kong Flu

By a process where two different strains of flu invade the same cell at the same time and then merge to become a new strain called an antigen shift, the H2N2 virus which caused the Asian Flu went on to become the H3N2 virus. This new virus went on to cause the third largest epidemic of the twentieth century called the Hong Kong Flu in 1968.

A potential threat

In a recent, unexpected development, thousands of test kits were sent to labs all over the world in a routine exercise in which anonymous germs are sent to labs for them to practice their assessment techniques. Instead of containing a current strain of influenza which modern drugs can handle, the kits contained the 1957 strain, against which younger generations pf people have absolutely no immunity. Should the virus escape one of the labs, it could start a whole new epidemic. Thousands of kits are still at large despite an urgent recall issued by health authorities.