learning goals appreciate that events on the other side of the world affect us

Learning Goals

• Appreciate that events on the other side of the world affect us

Learning Goals


• Be able to discuss epidemiological issues using basic terms

Learning Goals



• Describe the properties that affect the spread of an infectious disease

Learning Goals



• Describe the properties that affect the spread of an infectious disease

• Motivate future discussions of how our bodies interact with infectious microbes

1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic

• Had little to do with Spain



• Soldiers coming home from WWI were thought to spread the virus




• At least 40 million people died worldwide and about 500,000 people died in the US




• At least 40 million people died worldwide and about 500,000 people died in the US

• 20-40% of the world population became ill because of the pandemic


• Had little to do with Spain• Soldiers coming home from WWI were

thought to spread the virus• At least 40 million people died worldwide

and about 500,000 people died in the US• 20-40% of the world population became ill

because of the pandemic• Because they held national quarantines,

Western Samoa and Iceland avoided the 1918 flu

1957 Asian Flu Pandemic

• The global death toll was estimated to be around 2 million with about 70,000 deaths in the United States



• In US, students and young adults were at the greatest risk because they were commonly in crowded situations, which helped to spread the disease



• In US, students and young adults were at the greatest risk because they were commonly in crowded situations, which helped to spread the disease

• Vaccine production started 3 months after initial Asian outbreaks

1968 Hong Kong Flu Pandemic

• Resulted in nearly 34,000 deaths in the United States and killed as many as 1 million people worldwide

1968 Hong Kong Flu Pandemic

• Resulted in nearly 34,000 deaths in the United States and killed as many as 1 million people worldwide

• Vaccine became available one month after the initial outbreak

Avian Influenza – “the Bird Flu”

• 160 humans infected, ~80 dead, millions of birds dead, only transmissible from birds to humans so far



• Spreading from East Asia to Europe, recently found in Italy



• Spreading from East Asia to Europe, recently found in Italy

• The bird flu will likely evolve the ability to pass from human to human. If this happens, its 50% mortality rate could kill millions of people

What if…?

• If either the 1918 flu or 1957/1968 flu hit the US today, ~90 million (of 295 million) people would be infected

What if…?

• If either the 1918 flu or 1957/1968 flu hit the US today, ~90 million (of 295 million) people would be infected

• The 1918 pandemic would kill 1.9 million people and cost $203 billion

What if…?

• If either the 1918 flu or 1957/1968 flu hit the US today, then ~90 million (of 295 million) people would be infected

• The 1918 pandemic would kill 1.9 million people and cost $203 billion

• The 1957 or 1968 pandemics would kill 200, 000 and cost $87 billion

• If it were the bird flu, with 50% virulence rate…

learning goals appreciate that events on the other side of the world affect us

Documents