INFLUENZA OR FLU IN HISTORY

INFLUENZA OR FLU IN HISTORY

Introduction

Influenza is the most common cause of illness and death in the history of the world so far. Millions of people have died from influenza, the only disease in the world. After all, you could name the devastating Spanish flu of 1918, where millions of lives are reported. Or look at the now-days Corona virus, which has caused panic throughout the world.

In the mid-1700s, however, an Italian had said something about the illness caused by bad air. The disease is believed to be the first time it was called influenza.

This type of disease is generally thought to have originated 6000 years ago. Nevertheless, its first documentary record goes back to 1580, when the outbreak of the epidemic was reported in Africa and Asia Minor due to influenza virus.

Influenza or flu in history | Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

What is Influenza?

Now let's talk a little bit about influenza. Influenza is a type of respiratory infection, in which we can see the patient suffering from a cold in the early stages of infection. Then it shows the symptoms of headache, fever, small dry cough. Infections of the disease are dangerous for young people and those with particular health problems. The disease usually lasts for weeks. It is generally believed that influenza spread to humans when humans began to feed animals and animals for their own use. Humans have been suffering from this disease for thousands of years.

This influenza has not been discovered in the study of human health, but it has been discovered when some veterinarians studied animal diseases.

Influenza in 1580

An Italian report adds to the influx of influenza in Asia Minor and North Africa in 1580, that is, the influenza spread from Malta to Sicily until July 1580 and then spread north to the Italian islands in August. At that time, Phillip II was ruled by southern Italy, ports of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. It is said that the outbreak of influenza in the Spanish Netherlands was probably due to Phillip II sending his troops to fight the Dutch.

Influenza outbreaks occurred at least three times in the eighteenth century. It covers the period 1729 to 1730, 1732 to 1735 and 1781 to 1782. In addition, it is believed that there were two major epidemic outbreaks in 1761 and 1762, as well as 1788 and 1789.

Influenza in 1729-1730

While it is not certain how the outbreak of the epidemic of 1729-1730 originated, it is believed that Western Europe observers thought the wave came from Russia.

Then there was the rise in Sweden in September, Vienna in October and in Hungary & Poland in November. He has since appeared in Germany, England, Dubai, Plymouth, York, Durham and Ireland.

During this time, individuals of all ages were ill, but mortality was only higher in pregnant women and infants.

Influenza in 1781-1782

The most widespread and dramatic epidemic outbreak has occurred in history, with the epidemic of 1781-1782 being the epidemic of 1889-1890 and 1918-1919.

Influenza spread in the eastern hemisphere in 1781, including China and British occupied India. The epidemic initially began in China, and in 1782 the epidemic moved westward.

Russian flu (1889-1890)

The Russian pandemic, or Russian flu influenza, entered Europe from Eastern Europe in November-December 1889. This epidemic was one of the biggest epidemics of the nineteenth century. This was one of the first influenza epidemic during the rapid development of bacteriology. Likewise, this was the first epidemic about which the pandemic was widely reported in the daily newspaper.

In November and December 1889, the largest influenza outbreak of nineteenth- century disease began in Europe. This influx of people from east to east in Europe was nicknamed 'Russian influenza' or Asiatic influenza'.

In St. Petersburg, the first outbreak of influenza occurred in October 1889, while the pandemic developed in November. Influenza appeared in Paris in November-December 1889. Then, in late December, the epidemic began to appear in Italy, and despite severe illness in Rome, there were no deaths. The first news about influenza pandemic appeared in Spain in late December.

The epidemic spread over a five-week period killed nearly 100000 people.

Spanish flu (1918-1919)

The outbreak of influenza of 1918 is known as the “Spanish flu”. This type of influenza caused such a rapid and massive loss of life that no influenza could be compared to it. This type of influenza killed millions. Most of them were in the hopeful period of their lives.

Although the exact origin of the 1918-1919 companion is unknown, some evidence suggests that it existed in the United States in early March 1918.

The second wave, which occurred between March and April, spread throughout the United States, with the wave spreading to the rest of the world. Spread across Europe in April. In July alone, 53,000 people died of the Spanish flu in Switzerland.

The period that the disease began to spread was World war I. The disease spread to many countries that were involved in the war. But to maintain the bravery of our soldiers who participated in the war, the news of this illness was suppressed by the countries involved in the war. At the same time, Spain took a neutral role in World War I. The disease spread worldwide, even in Spain. But Spain, like other countries, did not hide the news from the ordinary peoples that the disease was spreading to our country. That is why the disease became known as Spanish flu.

Some say the disease has begun in the United States, and others say it has started spreading from the British military camp in France. According to a recent argument China has been blamed for the Spanish flu outbreak. According to the new logic, the “Spanish flu” began in northern China in 1917. The disease spread from China to Western Europe, at which time Chinese people were brought in as laborers in advanced countries like France and Britain. More than one million Chinese workers were in Britain and France at that time for jobs such as jobs and wages. Because of these workers this disease was spread throughout the Europe.

Looking up, the “Spanish flu” pandemic spread to even the most remote parts of Alaska. The disease had been spreading for almost two years. Soldiers are said to have the highest incidence of the disease. Since the outbreak of World War I, soldiers in military camps of different countries are said to have died of the disease.

There are also many estimates about the statistics of those who died of the Spanish flu. It is estimated that about four to five million people died of the Spanish flu.

Asian flu (1957-1958)

The Asian flu, which came in 1957, was the second largest influenza epidemic of the twentieth century, following the Spanish flu of 1918-1919.

In 1957 the epidemic spread to China, spreading to the United States in the middle of the summer. The second wave of Asian flu occurred in the Northern Hemisphere in November of 1957, and in December nearly 3500 people died in England and Wales. In March of 1958, the U.S. about 70000 people died. During the pandemic of 1957-1958, W.H.O.’s expert panel discovered that its spread was caused by public gatherings in some countries, such as gatherings and festivals. This panel reported that in many countries, this pandemic first broke out in military camps, military units and in schools. So they suggested that to prevent this pandemic, it was necessary to avoid gatherings and crowds.

The pandemic resulted in the death of about one million people.

Hong-Kong Flu (1968-1969)

It was the third influenza epidemic in the twentieth century. The outbreak of the Influenza originated in China in July 1968 and had an effect from 1969-1970. Its first outbreak was reported in Hong Kong on July 13, 1968. This pandemic spread worldwide over the next two winters. In some countries the prevalence of the disease is increased in the first winter and in some countries in the second winter.

The outbreak was reported in Singapore and Vietnam in late July. The flu spread to India, the Philippines, North Australia and Europe in September 1968, and spread to Japan, Africa and South America until 1969. The first patient was found in the United States in September 1968. But it wasn’t until December 1968 that the disease spread. The death toll from this outbreak was recorded after December 1968 and up to January 1969. People over the age of 65 were dying of the disease. The disease killed around 34,000 people in the United States.

Nearly 1000000 deaths have been reported worldwide due to the flu.

Swine flu (2009)

The 2009 pandemic was emerged as an international emergency and it was declared a global pandemic. 60 million people infected by this pandemic and initially at least 18500 patients were died. But of the 2012 report of the CDC showed that this pandemic was in worse action in final stage where it was closer to the 300000 deaths.

 In 2016, the report by the researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that the 2009 H1N1 virus likely originated from pigs in a very small region of central Mexico. To avoid the spread of the virus, the Mexican government closed most of Mexican city’s public & private facilities. However, it continued to spread globally.

H1N1 virus had killed more than 18000 people since it appeared in April 2009, according to the WHO’s statistics. Most of the deaths occurred in eastern Asia and Africa. 284500 deaths are due to this disease and this figure is higher than the primary death toll. W.H.O. and other experts agree on this.

Bird flu (2003-2004)

Bird flu is the disease which has outbreak from China. This disease first came in Chinese ducks and then after this infected to the chickens. During 2003-2004 this disease was rampaged in China. Many people were suffer from this disease as the virus spread to the human body.

In 2005, the virus spread in Europe. Then it spread in middle-east and in Africa. The birds, who spread the avian flu that birds were mostly farm birds and chicken. More than 85% of the affected birds are farm birds and chicken, the report said that.

In 2014, Canada affected by the avian flu. In December 2014, after two turkeys were quarantined in Canada, the outbreak of bird flu happened. It is confirmed by Canada Inspection agency.

The bird flu affected patients usually have contact with the infected fluid of the infected bird or dead infected birds handled by them.

Due to dense population and low hygiene condition, the people in Asia have highest risk of having avian flu.

Corona Virus (2019-2020)

At present, the Corona virus (Covid-19) has been widespread worldwide. Millions of people have been infected. Thousands of people have died. New issues are coming up every day. New patients are increasing daily and some recovering. Lock-down has been made in many countries to prevent the spread of the diseases.

The corona virus is a group of viruses. In the decade of 1960, Corona virus discovered first time.

Common symptoms of corona are fever, fatigue and dry cough. Some patients may have runny nose, sore throat, pain, nasal congestion or diarrhea in some patients. These symptoms are usually mild and start slowly. Some people do not have these symptoms even after having an infection, and then they do not feel well. 1 in 6 people with coronas get seriously ill and have difficulty breathing.  Those who have high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes, and those who are elderly are more likely to have a serious illness. Healthcare and government say people with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical advice. There is currently no definitive drug available for this disease. Symptomatic measures are taken on the symptoms that appear in the patient. When the patient is in critical condition he is placed on a life-saving system.

A sub-type of the corona virus was discovered in 2019 in Wuhan, China, called Covid-19. The virus is more severe than its other sub-type and has a high mortality rate. As of March 29, 2020, 629684 people have been infected in the world and 28970 have died. The outbreak is spread in 171 countries. Among them 138089 people have recovered.