On June 11, 2009, the World health Organization officially declared H1N1 a, “Pandemic 6.”According to the WHO, Pandemic 6 is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region. It is also characterized by human-to-human spread in at least two WHO countries.

While H1N1 is now officially the first pandemic of the 21st Century, it’s not the first Pandemic to strike in recent history. Today, we’re going to take a look back at three flu pandemics of the 20th century – the “Spanish Flu,” the “Asian flu” and the “Hong Kong Flu.”

SPANISH FLU – 1918

I think the quickest way to get you up to speed on the general, “vibe” of the Spanish flu, is that it has been described as the, “WORST MEDICAL HOLOCAUST IN HISTORY.” The 1918 Flu pandemic spread to almost every part of the world—even remote pacific islands and the arctic had cases of the disease. Between March 1918 and June 1920, Spanish flu killed anywhere from 50 to 100 MILLION people worldwide. To put this into perspective, that is three to seven times the amount of people killed in WWI, or 3-6% of the world population. One-third of the world population (500 million people) was infected with disease.

If widespread infection and a death toll that surpassed that from a WORLD WAR wasn’t enough, Spanish flu had a few more horrible tricks up its sleeve. Spanish flu greatly weakened the immune system, allowing bacterial pneumonia to creep in and kill those who were infected. The virus itself also took many lives, as it cause massive hemmorages and edema in the lungs. This led to people bleeding to death via hemmorages in the stomach, intestines, lungs, ears, and skin. Talk about a HORRIBLE way to die!

Spanish flu was first recorded in the United States, and quickly spread to Europe. So why isn’t Spanish Flu called United States Flu? Spain was neutral during WWI, so they had no censorship on information about the disease, its effects, and how to treat it. Therefore Span gave the most legitimate and reliable news n the pandemic, and in the process gave a false impression that Spain was the most or only country affected.

Spanish Flu spread quickly with help from WWI. Soldiers were kept in close quarters in cold, wet trenches. They were also exposed to chemical weapons, stress, and were frequently malnourished, leaving them with weakened immune systems. Another reason the disease was so brutal, was that modern transportation was available during a pandemic for the first time, greatly increasing the worldwide spread of the disease. Finally, the lack of true modern medicine meant that Spanish Flu was frequently misdiagnosed as dengue, cholera, or typhoid, and therefore was not properly treated.

Noo ne is completely sure how the Spanish Flu virus came to infect humans. Some researchers believe it may have jumped from a mammal to humans, but most believe it to be a type of Avian flu.


ASIAN FLU – 1957

Asian Flu was a type of Avian Influenza that originated in China. The Pandemic lasted from 1956-1958. A Asian flu jumped from wild ducks to human beings via a genetic mutation. The flu spread throughout china and parts of Asia in 1956, and made its way to the United States in June 1957.

According to the World Health Organization, Asian flu killed 2 million people worldwide, and 69,800 in the US. Due to scientific advancements science 1918, the Asian flu virus was quickly identified, and a vaccine was developed within a year of its discovery.

HONG KONG FLU – 1968

July 1968 marked the first recorded outbreak of Hong Kong Flu. By the end of the month, the virus had already spread to Vietnam and Singapore. The Hong Kong Flu virus evolved directly from the Asian Flu virus, and despite the similarity between the two viruses, little improvements had been made in how to handle a flu pandemic.

The Hong Kong flu made it to the United States in September 1968, brought home by returning Vietnam War troops. The disease became widespread in America by December 1968, and by 1969 the disease had made it to Japan, Africa, and South America.

Compared to the Spanish and Asian flu, the Hong Kong flu had a low mortality rate. Only 0.5% of those infected died. Hong Kong flu killed 1 million people worldwide, with 33,800 of those people being American.

Besides improved medical and scientific advancements, another reason that the Hong Kong Flu was not as deadly was that many people were partially vaccinated before it even existed. Since the Hong Kong flu evolved directly from the Asian Flu, anyone who contracted the Asian Flu had a significant immunity to the Hong Kong Flu.


SO – while H1N1 could almost never be as bad as the 1918 Spanish Flu, it’s still a very serious disease. One of the main reasons that H1N1 is not as deadly as the Spanish Flu is that we now have improved antibiotics, vaccines, and plans to follow to stop pandemics in their tracks. Remember – you are the first line of defense against the spread of H1N1. If you’re sick: STAY HOME! Wash your hand frequently, and always cough into a tissue or your bent elbow.

Furthermore, if you are a teacher or business owner who believes that H1N1 may be present in your property, do the right thing: Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey. As the years passed during the 20th Century, flu pandemics became less and less deadly – But that’s only because scientific advancements got better. Bio-Clean uses a cutting edge, broad spectrum disinfectant and dispersal system to statistically lower you and your employee’s risk of infection. Check it out on our website! Don’t risk having sick employees or having to close your business- Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey today and ask about the scientific advancements in Flu Decontamination.

Labels: flu, H1N1, H1N1 decontamination, Pandemics, seasonal flu