Dark Ages 2.0+©: A Short History of Disease, specifically Influenza

Of course we are all learning more and more about the impact of modern influenza and disease on our human populations. In fact, there have been 100+ outbreaks over the past century.

In the decade (the 10 year period) of 1909-1918, alone there were scores of outbreaks. In 1909 there was Beriberi in the Philippines. In 1910 there was Cholera in Russia and Schistosomiasis in Iraq. In 1911 there was Poliomyelitis in Sweden, Measles in the Fiji Islands, Cholera in Tripoli (Libia) and Plague in Morocco. In 1912 there was Plague in Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). From 1912-1940 Sleeping Sickness was prevalent in Chad. From 1914 to 1915 Serbia had an outbreak of Typhus; the same disease continued in Russia from 1915 to 1922. In 1915 Plague broke out in Vietnam. New Zealand suffered from both Poliomyelitis and Measles from 1915 to 1916. Cholera broke out in Russia from 1915 to 1922. In the United States there was Poliomyelitis in 1916. From 1917 to 1919 Australia experienced Murray Valley Encephalitis, and China and Northern Zambia had cases of the Plague. All culminating in the BIG ONE, the Influenza outbreak of 1917 to 1919, affecting Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America, Oceania; which resulted in between 80 million and 100 million human deaths. Of course there were a couple of other events, Meningitis in Mangalla [southern Sudan] in 1918 – 1924) and Plague in in Ecuador from 1918 to 1926.

Now we're facing another pandemic, which had been expected to be cause by the H5N1 influenza virus (bird flu), but which instead has turned out to be H1N1 influenza virus (swine flu).

H1N1 Swine Flu – update – Updated to November 5, 2009

Links to previous and subsequent journal entries
@ Sometimes On The Edge©:

i.e.:

May 1, 2009

H1N1 (Swine Flu) - Keeping A World Perspective

WHO - World Health Organization will keep us updated on the evolution of Influenza A (H1N1) at this site. [ http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_05_01/en/index.html ]

A World Map of Swine Flu Trends from [http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/04/] [ http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/04/swine-flu-trends.html ] This is a map depicting confirmed and suspected cases of the 2009 Influenza A/H1N1 outbreak. And, 2009 H1N1 Flu Outbreak Map.

From CDC - U.S. Center for Disease Control - H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) ... [ http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ ] - H1N1 Flu website last updated May 12, 2009, 3:00 PM ET, also: . cdc.gov/ "What You Can Do to Stay Healthy"

“Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

Take everyday actions to stay healthy.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, face masks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.”
Avoid contact with those people sneezing, coughing, vomiting.”
Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

This is an update of my post: "Swine Flu Getting World Perspective" ... [ http://www.sometimesontheedge.com/2009/04/swine-flu-getting-world-perspective.html ] in Sometimes On The Edge© [ http://www.sometimesontheedge.com/ ]