Flu Virus Can Be Deadlier Than War
The year 2018 will mark the 100th anniversary of the deadliest influenza outbreak in history. Scientists estimate that the influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more than 50 million people around the world. The outbreak was a global disaster, killing more people than World War I.
Although modern medicine effectively controls many diseases, influenza remains difficult to protect against. The World Health Organization estimates that every year influenza kills 250,000 to 500,000 people around the world.
Flu vaccines offer immunity from a limited number of influenza viruses and often do not protect against new forms of the virus. Vaccine makers are also concerned with the low rate of effectiveness for flu vaccines.
David Vaughn is the Senior Vaccine Development Leader for Influenza and Dengue Vaccines at the drug company GlaxoSmithKlein. Vaughn says becoming infected with influenza remains very common.
Health officials remain concerned about another flu pandemic. New strains of the flu virus appear regularly. One example was the "swine flu" or H1N1 outbreak in 2009.
However, outbreaks do not affect all parts of the world equally. Vaughn notes that pandemics hit the developing world harder because of low vaccination rates.
To stop the next pandemic, scientists are now researching how to create a universal influenza vaccine. However, until a universal influenza vaccine is available, today’s seasonal flu vaccine remains important. Experts say that they may prevent the spread of the flu virus and may lower the risk of a deadly pandemic like the one in 1918.
