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The 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Pathology and Pathogenesis

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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH

Part of the book series: Infectious Disease ((ID))

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Abstract

Influenza viruses are among the most common causes of human respiratory infections [1], and among the most significant because they cause high morbidity and mortality. Influenza outbreaks have apparently occurred since at least the Middle Ages, if not since ancient times [2]. In the elderly, in infants, and in people with chronic diseases, influenza is associated with especially high mortality. In the United States, influenza results in approximately 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in a typical endemic season [3]. In addition to annual winter outbreaks, pandemic influenza viruses occasionally emerge [4,5], as they have every eight to 41 years, for at least several centuries. Up to 50% of the population can be infected in a single pandemic year, and the number of deaths caused by influenza can dramatically exceed what is normally expected [6].

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Acknowledgements.

We thank all of our collaborators. This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIAID and the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Viral Pathogenesis and Evolution Section, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    John C. Kash

  2. Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institutes of Health, 33 North Drive, Room 3E19A.2 MSC 3203, Bethesda, MD, 20892-3203, USA

    Jeffery K. Taubenberger (Senior Investigator)

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Health & Human Services, National Institute of Health, Rockledge Drive 6610, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland, USA

    Vassil St. Georgiev

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Kash, J.C., Taubenberger, J.K. (2010). The 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Pathology and Pathogenesis. In: Georgiev, V. (eds) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH. Infectious Disease. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-512-5_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-512-5_36

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-511-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-512-5

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