by Mopes

Created on: January 30, 2009

During the Spanish flu of 1918, physicians discovered that transfusing the blood from recently recovered patients to new ones they could help stem the onset of the sickness. This discovery was the inspiration for the vaccine that we know today. This method was never used as a traditional vaccination, but it works using the same basic principals.

In the 1930's the virus that causes influenza was discovered. At this time, many attempts at developing a working vaccine were made. Scientists at nearly every notable university attempted to develop a vaccination, but this wasn't accomplished until the 1940's. This is when the US military created the first approved influenza vaccine. This vaccine was administered to allied troops during World War II to help prevent a mass outbreak that could effect the outcome of the war.

The single person most notable in the development of a working vaccine is Jonas Salk. He was a prominent physician and biologist. He worked at both the University of Michigan and the University of Pittsburgh with teams of scientists who were dedicated to preventing and curing highly contagious diseases. Salk would later develop a vaccination for polio.

Because influenza is a constantly evolving virus, and new strains are discovered every year, no single vaccination will ever be enough to prevent the flu in a person over the long-term. Because of this the vaccine has to be reformulated constantly. In 1952, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a Global Influenza Surveillance Network comprising of 4 WHO Collaborating Centres and 112 institutions all over the world. These institutions send samples of the current strains from each region to the Collaborating Centres each year, where they develop a working vaccine for the northern and southern hemispheres separately.

The first influenza pandemic was recorded in the late 16th century. Since that time, hundreds of millions of people have suffered from the flu. It's very important that each individual does whatever possible to prevent the spread of the influenza virus, because it has the potential to be deadly. In fact, influenza is responsible for the death of approximately 36,000 Americans each year.

The constant evolution of this virus means it will always be a concern. But thanks to the discovery of the vaccine, and the constant evolution of our efforts thanks to the World Health Organization, the odds of their being another epidemic killing millions are slim. And it is important to note that as vaccination rates continue to rise, the annual death toll continues to fall.

Learn more about this author, Mopes.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.