Preparing for pandemic flu
August 6, 2008
Health officials who are preparing for the next flu pandemic through vaccine prevention might want to consider another approach, suggest the authors of a new study on 1918 pandemic.
A team of microbiologists in Silver Spring has concluded that most people who perished during the 1918 flu pandemic died of bacterial infections — not from the flu itself.
Instead, they venture that bacterial pneumonia was the likely cause of death for most of the 20-to-100 million victims of the so-called Spanish flu — though the flu virus did have a significant role.
Records from ‘18 and ‘19 show that most victims lasted more than a week after showing symptoms - a hallmark of pneumonia. Few people died within three days, which would indicate the flu. Researchers also found new military recruits (those not exposed to resident bacteria) died in droves, while most lifelong soldiers survived.
Medical experts think that the flu strain paved the way for the bacteria to take hold by placing stress on the immune system and killing cells in the respiratory tract, making a home for invading bacteria.
“The 1918 pandemic is considered to be - and clearly is - something unique, and it’s widely understood to be the most lethal natural event that has occurred in recent human history,” said John Brundage, a medical microbiologist for the Armed Forces in Silver Spring.
And whether it originates from birds or other sources, Brundage suggests the government consider preparing for the next flu pandemic by stocking up on antibiotics - just in case.
JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor
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