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H1N1H1N1 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus(bird flu virus). H1N1 has mutated into various strains including the Spanish Flustrain (now extinct in the wild), rare and mild humanflu strains, endemic pigstrains, and various strains found in birds. A variant of H1N1 was responsible for the Spanish flupandemicthat killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918and 1919[1]. A different variant exists in pigpopulations. Controversy arose in October, 2005, after the H1N1 genomewas published in the journal, Science. Many fear that this information could be used for bioterrorism. "When he compared the 1918 virus with today's human flu viruses, Dr. Taubenberger noticed that it had alterations in just 25 to 30 of the virus's 4,400 amino acids. Those few changes turned a bird virus into a killer that could spread from person to person." [2] Spanish Flu
The Spanish Flu, also known as La Grippe, or La Pesadilla, was an unusually severe and deadly strainof avian influenza, a viralinfectiousdisease, that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918and 1919. It is thought to have been one of the most deadly pandemicsso far in human history. It was caused by the H1N1 type of influenzavirus, which is similar to bird flu of today, mainly H5N1and H5N2. Sources
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Categories: Influenza| Pandemics
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