Learning Package 6 - Major Pandemics from the 20th Century

16 APR 2020

Photo credit: Tedward Quinn via Unsplash

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines a pandemic as the worldwide spread of a new disease, crossing international boundaries and affecting a large number of people.1 Before being classified as a pandemic, the outbreak is usually first labelled as an epidemic.2 Viruses that have caused past pandemics typically originated from animal influenza viruses.3

While these viruses may cause symptoms similar to those of the seasonal flu or common cold – such as a cough and fever4- the population would not have immunity against it. This results in severe illness and even death for a large number of individuals. Those with compromised immune systems, co-morbidities and the elderly are at the highest risk.5

The 20th century has seen three influenza pandemics, each being the result of a new type of Influenza A virus. The most severe was the Spanish Flu, which took place between 1918 and 1919. Caused by an A(H1N1) virus, it claimed the lives of an estimated 20 to 50 million people. In the second half of the 20th century, the Asian Flu (1957–58), caused by an A(H2N2) virus, and the Hong Kong Flu (1968), caused by an A(H3N2) virus, took the lives of an estimated one to four million people respectively. Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2002 to 2003 and the Swine Flu (H1N1) in 2009 were the more recent pandemics.6

Lessons from previous pandemics such as the Spanish Flu and SARS outbreak suggest that social distancing measures and international cooperation are the most effective methods to slow down the spread of COVID-19.7

The previous package explored the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in 1918. To learn more about other major pandemics after the Spanish Flu, check out the resources listed below. Look out for our next instalment where we will look at vaccinations.

Books/ Ebooks/ Audiobooks

1. Pandemic: Tracking contagions, from cholera to ebola and beyond

Shah, S. (2016, 26 February). Pandemics: Tracking contagions, from cholera to ebola and beyond. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Retrieved from OverDrive. (myLibrary ID is required to access the eBook and audiobook)

2. The pandemic century: One hundred years of panic, hysteria, and hubris

Hongsbaum, M. (2019). The pandemic century: One hundred years of panic, hysteria, and hubris. W.W Norton & Company. Retrieved from OverDrive. (myLibrary ID is required to access the eBook and audiobook)

3. Global flu and you: A history of influenza

Dehner, G. (2011). Global flu and you: A history of influenza. Reaction Books. Retrieved from OverDrive. (myLibrary ID is required to access the eBook)

4. Plagues in world history

Aberth, J. (2011). Plagues in world history. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from OverDrive. (myLibrary ID is required to access the eBook)

5. Spillover: Animal infections and the next human pandemic

Quammen, D. (2012). Spillover: Animal infections and the next human pandemic. W. W. Norton.

Book Cover: All rights reserved, New York: W. W. Norton, 2012

Videos and Podcasts

1. 1957 Asian Flu pandemic

1957 Asian Flu pandemic. (n.d.). The History of Vaccines. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

2. Interview with Dr Robert Belshe on the origins of pandemic influenzas

Interview with Dr Robert Belshe on the origins of pandemic influenzas (2005, November 24). The New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

3. SARS – A crisis that bonded a nation

Source: SARS – A crisis that bonded a nation. Ministry of Health. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

4. Progress in global surveillance and response capacity 10 years after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013, November 11). Progress in global surveillance and response capacity 10 years after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

5. The H1N1 Swine Flu: A look inside

Source: The H1N1 Swine Flu: A look inside. (2009, October 16). Discovery. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

6. A look back at the H1N1 outbreak

Source: A look back at the H1N1 outbreak. Channel News Asia. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

Websites

1. The history of pandemics, from the Antonine Plague to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) event, ranked by their impact on human life

LePan, N. (2020, March 14). The history of pandemics, from the Antonine Plague to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) event, ranked by their impact on human life. Visual Capitalist. Retrieved 2020, April 11.

2. Past pandemics

Past pandemics. (2018, August 10). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). Retrieved 2020, April 11.

3. A century of flu pandemics

A Century of Flu Pandemics. (n.d.). Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Retrieved on 2020, March 31.

4. Revisiting 1957–1958 influenza pandemic may provide clues to combating H1N1

Revisiting the 1957–1958 influenza pandemic may provide clues to combating H1N1. (2009, September). Infectious Disease in Children. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

5. The math behind social distancing

Lu, M. (2020, March 28). The math behind social distancing. Visual Capitalist. Retrieved 2020, April 11.

6. 全球流感大流行概述

任瑞奇、周蕾、倪大新。（2018年）。全球流感大流行概述。《中华流行病学杂志》, 39(8), 1021 – 1027. Retrieved 2020, April 2.

This article gives an overview of the four influenza pandemics, namely the Spanish Flu (1918–1919), the Asian Flu (1957–1958), the Hong Kong Flu (1968) and 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic (H1N1).

7. Virus corona pandemi global, ini 6 pandemik terburuk sepanjang sejarah

Virus corona pandemi global, ini 6 pandemik terburuk sepanjang sejarah. (2020, March 12). Kompass.com. Retrieved 2020, April 1.

This article examines the six pandemics and epidemics that occurred in the 20th century. These include the Spanish Flu, which started in 1918, Asian Flu in 1957, Hong Kong Flu (H3N2) in 1968 and Swine Flu (H1N1) in 2009.

Journal Articles

1. Influenza pandemics of the 20th century

Kilbourne, E. (2006, January). Influenza pandemics of the 20th century. Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases. US National Library of Medicine. National Institute of Health. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

2. The origins of pandemic influenza – Lessons from the 1918 virus

Belshe, R. (2005, November). The origins of pandemic influenza – Lessons from the 1918 virus. The New England Journal of Medicine, (353), 2209 –2211. Retrieved on 2020, March 31.

3. Preparing for the next flu pandemic: From SARS to avian flu

Zhong, N. (2008). Preparing for the next flu pandemic: From SARS to avian flu. Singapore Medical Journal, 48(8), 595–598. Retrieved on 2020, March 31.

4. Influenza pandemics in Singapore, a tropical, globally connected city

Lee, V., et al. (2007). Influenza pandemics in Singapore, a tropical, globally connected city. Journal of Emerging Infectious Disease, 13(7), 1052–1057. Retrieved on 2020, March 31.

5. Twentieth century influenza pandemics in Singapore

Lee, V., et al. (2008). Twentieth century influenza pandemics in Singapore. Annals Academy of Medicine, 37, 470–476. Retrieved on 2020, March 31.

6. Multinational impact of the 1968 Hong Kong Influenza pandemic: Evidence for a smouldering pandemic

Viboud, C., et. al. (2005, July). Multinational impact of the 1968 Hong Kong Influenza pandemic: Evidence for a smouldering pandemic. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Oxford Academic, 192(2). Retrieved on 2020, March 31.

7. An outbreak of “Hong Kong Flu” in Singapore

Kadri, Z. N. (1970, March). An outbreak of “Hong Kong Flu” in Singapore. Singapore Medical Journal, 11(1). Retrieved 2020, March 31.

8. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, 2003

Chew, V. (2009). Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, 2003. Infopedia. National Library Board, Singapore. Retrieved on 2020, March 31.

9. Improving the evidence base for decision making during a pandemic: The example of 2009 influenza A/H1N1

Lipsitch, M., et al. (2011, June). Improving the evidence base for decision making during a pandemic: The example of 2009 influenza A/H1N1. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science, 89–115. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

10. Influenza A (H1N1-2009) outbreak

Pek, S. (2011). Influenza A (H1N1-2009) outbreak. Infopedia. National Library, Singapore. Retrieved 2020, March 31.

11. 新加坡铁腕治SARS

Fallows, T. （2003年06月09日）。新加坡铁腕治SARS。人民网。Retrieved 2020, April 2.

Originally published in Caijing magazine, this article reviews the measures taken to curb the SARS outbreak in Singapore in 2003.

Disclaimer/ Rights statement
The information in this resource guide is valid as at April 2020 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2020.

References

  1. “What is a Pandemic?” (2020, February 24). World Health Organization. Retrieved 2020, April 7 from https://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/pandemic/en/ ↩

  2. Fischer, R.S.B. (2020, March 12). “What’s the Difference between Pandemic, Epidemic and Outbreak?”, The Conversation. Retrieved 2020, April 7 from https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-pandemic-epidemic-and-outbreak-133048 ↩

  3. “What is a Pandemic?” (2020, February 24). World Health Organization. Retrieved 2020, April 7 from https://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/pandemic/en/ ↩

  4. “How Is Pandemic Flu Different from Seasonal Flu?” (2019, May 7). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2020, April 7 from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/basics/about.html ↩

  5. Reis, C. and Lawry, L.L. (2020, March 31). “These Groups Are Among the Most Vulnerable During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The Conversation. Retrieved 2020, April 7 from https://theconversation.com/these-groups-are-among-the-most-vulnerable-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-133774 ↩

  6. Past Pandemics. (n.d.) World Health Organization. Retrieved 2020, April 11 from http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/pandemic-influenza/past-pandemics ↩

  7. Goudarzi, S. (2020, March 23). Lessons from Past Outbreaks Could Help Fight the Coronavirus Pandemic, Scientific American. Retrieved 2020, April 7 from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lessons-from-past-outbreaks-could-help-fight-the-coronavirus-pandemic1/ ↩