Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polysaccharide vaccines were licensed
On Apr. 12, 1985, the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polysaccharide vaccines (b-CAPSA 1 by Praxis Biologics, Hib-VAX…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Influenza | Life Science News | Vaccine
CDC began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from state and territorial epidemiologists
In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from…
swine flu vaccination program in the U.S. Suspended following reports of paralysis
On Oct. 13, 1976, the swine flu vaccination program in the U.S. was suspended following reports of paralysis. …
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | FDA | Influenza | Life Science History | Therapeutics | Vaccine
H1N1 outbreak at Fort Dix lead to a vaccination program to prevent a pandemic
In 1976, Influenza A/Victoria-like strains had been identified in New Jersey as early as January 21. The novel…
H3N2 viruses were first identified in swine
In 1970, influenza H3N2 viruses were first identified in swine during an influenza surveillance study in Taiwan. This…
The “Hong Kong” influenza pandemic resulted in roughly 34,000 deaths in the U.S.
The 1968 pandemic, also known as the Hong Kong flu, was caused by an influenza A (H3N2) virus…
Pandemic caused by an influenza A (H3N2) first noted in the U.S.
In 1968, a pandemic was caused by an influenza A (H3N2) virus comprised of two genes from an…
The “Asian” influenza pandemic resulted in an estimated 70,000 deaths in the U.S. alone
In Feb. 1957, a new influenza A (H2N2) virus emerged in East Asia, triggering a pandemic (‘Asian Flu’)….
The ‘Asian flu’ influenza pandemic emerged, resulting in the CDC setting up an influenza surveillance unit
In 1957, the ‘Asian flu’ influenza pandemic emerged, resulting in the CDC setting up an influenza surveillance unit,…
CDC’s influenza branch designated a WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance and Control of Influenza
In 1956, the CDC’s Influenza Branch in Atlanta was designated a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for…
WHO’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System established
Since 1952, global influenza surveillance has been conducted through WHO’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). The…
Biology | Influenza | Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine
Dr. Isabel M. Morgan demonstrated that chemically inactivated poliovirus would induce immunity
In 1948, Dr. Isabel M. Morgan led a team that successfully inoculated monkeys with a killed-virurs vaccine. From…
Margaret Pittman showed that sulfapyradine was effective against nontype-specific Haemophilus influenzae
In 1939, Margaret Pittman showed that sulfapyradine was effective against nontype-specific Haemophilus influenzae. Pittman discovered that there are…
Influenza vaccine developed to protect U.S. military forces
In 1938, Thomas Francis, Jr., MD and Jonas Salk, MD served as lead researchers at the University of…
Sir Macfarlane Burnet discovered that influenza virus could be grown in embryonated hens’ eggs
In 1936, Sir Macfarlane Burnet discovered that influenza virus could be grown in embryonated hens’ eggs. This led…
The etiology of ‘swine influenza’ was established
In 1931, Rockefeller Institute investigator Richard Shope published the first of three landmark papers that established the etiology…
The final tally for New Orleans stood at 54,089 cases and 3,489 deaths
By April 1919, following upticks in influenza over winter, the final tally for New Orleans stood at 54,089…
By the end of the influenza epidemic in Omaha, almost 1,200 people had died
in 1919, by the end of the influenza epidemic in Omaha, almost 1,200 people had died, with a…
The Stanley Cup playoffs between the Montreal Canadians and the Seattle Metropolitans cancelled by Spanish flu
On Apr. 1, 1919, the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Montreal Canadians and the Seattle Metropolitans ended tied…
Denver slowly returned to normal after its flu epidemic, and schools reopened
On Jan. 2, 1919, Denver slowly returned to normal after its flu epidemic, and schools reopened. School teachers…
Louisville experienced a third wave of influenza cases
By late February of 1919, Louisville experienced a third wave of influenza cases, but finally began to return…
Birmingham experienced a third wave in influenza cases and deaths
In Jan. 1919, Birmingham experienced a third wave in influenza cases and deaths.
Boston experienced an excess death rate of 710 per 100,000 residents during the influenza pandemic
By 1919, after the end of its second winter influenza wave, Boston had experienced an excess death rate…
Washington, DC one of the hardest-hit in the nation with 1918-1919 influenza pandemic
In 1919, Washington, D.C. suffered spikes in influenza cases throughout the remainder of 1918, and into early February…
By the end of the influenza epidemic, Philadelphia had suffered 748 deaths per 100,000 people
In 1919, by the end of the influenza epidemic, Philadelphia had suffered a terrible cost of 748 deaths…
Influenza cases dwindled through the winter of 1918, yet persisted into April 1919
In 1919, influenza cases dwindled through the winter of 1918, yet persisted into April 1919 sporadically. About 9…
Kansas City schools reopened as the influenza epidemic waned
On Dec. 30, 1918, Kansas City schools reopened as the influenza epidemic waned. The New Year came and…
The Cincinnati Board of Health removed ban prohibiting children from entering public places during influenza pandemic
On Dec. 23, 1918, the Cincinnati Board of Health removed its ban prohibiting children from entering public places….
Health Commissioner lifted remaining St Louis closure bans during influenza pandemic
On Dec. 20, 1918, after declining influenza cases, Health Commissioner Starkloff lifted remaining St. Louis closure bans.
Cincinnati Board of Health officials reversed business hour restrictions
On Dec. 14, 1918, meeting in special session, members quickly decided that the influenza situation in Cincinnati had…