Influenza landmarks in humans this century

Year

Colloquial Name (Subtype)

Source

Impact

Pandemics

1918

Spanish flu (H1N1 viruses like swine flu)

Possible emergence from swine or an avian host of a mutated H1N1 virus

Pandemic with >20 million deaths globally

1957

Asian flu (H2N2)

Possible mixed infection of an animal with human H1N1and avian H2N2 virus strains in Asia

Pandemic, H1N1virus disappeared

1968

Hong Kong flu (H3N2)

High probability of mixed infection of an animal with human H2N2 and avian H3Nx virus strains in Asia

Pandemic, H2N2 virus disappeared

1977

Russian flu (H1N1)

Source unknown but virus is almost identical to human epidemic strains from 1950. Reappearance detected at almost the same time in China and Siberia

Benign pandemic, primarily involving persons born after the 1950s. H1N1 virus has cocirculated with H3N2 virus in humans since 1977

Incidents with limited spread

1976

Swine flu (H1N1)

United States/New Jersey. Virus enzootic in U.S. swine herds since at least 1930

Localized outbreak in military training camp, with one death

1986

(H1N1)

The Netherlands. Swine virus derived from avian source

One adult with severe pneumonia

1988

Swine flu (H1N1)

United States/Wisconsin. Swine virus

Pregnant woman died after exposure to sick pig

1993

(H3N2)

The Netherlands. Swine reassortant between old human H3N2 (1973/75-like) and avian H1N1

Two children with mild disease. Fathers suspected to have transmitted the virus to the children after having been infected by pigs.

1995

(H7N7)

United Kingdom Duck virus

One adult with conjunctivitis

1997

Chicken flu (H5N1)

Hong Kong Poultry virus

18 confirmed human case, 6 deaths