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…
Three rubella virus strains were licensed in the U.S.
In 1969, three rubella virus strains were licensed in the U.S.: HPV-77 strain grown in dog-kidney culture (Rubelogen…
Max Delbruck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1969, Max Delbruck of the California Institute of Technology was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology…
The CDC opened its first biological containment lab
In 1969, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened its first permanent high-containment laboratory (HCL)…
A second live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 26, 1968, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed a second live, further attenuated measles…
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…
Mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax by Merck) was licensed
On Dec. 28, 1967, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mercks mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax)….
Study showed relationship between human and avian flu viruses
In 1967, Dr. H.G. Pereira and colleagues propose a relationship between human and avian flu viruses after a…
The rubella (measles) virus was attenuated by Paul Parkman and Harry Meyer, Jr
In 1965, the rubella virus was attenuated by a NIH research team lead by Paul Parkman and Harry…
A virus (the Epstein-Barr virus) was linked to human cancer (Burkitt lymphoma) for the first time
In 1964, a new herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), was discovered in cultured tumor cells derived from a Burkitt…
Live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine was licensed in the US
In 1964, live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine (Lirugen by Pitman Moore-Dow based on the Schwarz strain, derived…
The first live virus measles vaccine (Rubeovax by Merck) was licensed
On Mar. 21, 1963, the first live virus measles vaccine (Rubeovax by Merck) was licensed. Other live virus…
Inactivated measles vaccine were licensed in the US
In 1963, the first measles vaccines were licensed in 1963. Both vaccines were an inactivated (ﾓkilledﾔ) and a…
The FDA approved 5-FU as an anticancer drug
In 1962, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase showed that only the DNA of a virus needs to enter…
Outbreak in South Africa raises possibility of wild birds as a possible reservoir for influenza A viruses
In 1961, influenza virus was first isolated from wild birds in South Africa, from common terns (Sterna hirundo),…
The first antiviral drug was developed at Yale
In 1959, William Prusoff of Yale University discovered idoxuridine, the first effective antiviral that fights herpes by interfering…
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’)….
New H2N2 flu virus emergedﾠ to trigger a pandemic
In Feb. 1957, a new influenza A (H2N2) virus emerged in East Asia, triggering a pandemic (“Asian Flu”)….
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…
Officials discover polio cases after vaccine produced by Cutter Laboratories accidently contained live virus
On Apr. 26, 1955, Officials first noticed an increase in reported polio cases in California. Soon it was…
Simian virus 40 accidentally administered to humans through contaminated Poliovirus vaccines
From 1955 through early 1963, millions of people were accidentally exposed to simian virus 40 (SV40) as a…
John Enders, Thomas Weller, and Frederick Robbins were awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
In 1954, John Franklin Enders and Thomas C. Peebles isolated measles virus from an 11-year-old boy, David Edmonston….
John Enders and Thomas Peebles isolated the measles virus in cell culture
In 1954, John Enders, known as “the Father of Modern Vaccines” and Thomas Peebles isolated the measles virus…
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…
The Zikus virus was identified in humans
In 1952, the Zika virus was identified in humans. The virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947….
DNA is found to be the genetic material of some viruses
In 1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase showed that only the DNA of a virus needs to enter…
The Chikungunya virus was first recognized and isolated in southern Tanzania
In 1952, the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was first recognized and isolated from Makonde Plateau in southern Tanzania. Chikungunya…
The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System was created by the WHO
In 1952, the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) was created by World Health Organization (WHO) to…
Monkey kidney tissue to be the most fertile environment for Polio virus growth
In 1952, Dr. Jonas Salk and his team found monkey kidney tissue to be the most fertile environment…