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Title:

Public Health and Medical Responses to the 1957-58 Influenza Pandemic

Authors:

D. A. Henderson, Brooke Courtney, Thomas V. Inglesby, Eric Toner, Jennifer B. Nuzzo

Date posted:

August 05, 2009

Publication type:

Article

Publication:

Biosecur Bioterror 2009;7(3):265-273

Publisher:

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

DOI:

10.1089/bsp.2009.0729

Availability:

Open access

See also:

Article available on publisher’s site: PDF

Introduction:

As the U.S. prepares to respond this fall and winter to pandemic (H1N1) 2009, a review of the 1957-58 pandemic of Asian influenza (H2N2) could be useful for planning purposes because of the many similarities between the 2 pandemics. Using historical surveillance reports, published literature, and media coverage, this article provides an overview of the epidemiology "of and response to the 1957-58 influenza pandemic in the U.S., during which an estimated 25% of the population became infected with the new pandemic virus strain. While it cannot be predicted with absolute certainty how the H1N1 pandemic might play out in the U.S. this fall, lessons from the 1957-58 influenza pandemic provide useful and practical insights for current planning and response efforts.

Article available on publisher’s site: PDF