Introduction - Why plan for an influenza pandemic
Part 1: Australia's Health Plan for Pandemic InfluenzaPart 2: How individuals can help control the spread of the virusPart 3: More information for decision makers and health professionalsThe Spanish flu swept across the world in three waves between 1918 and 1919. It tended to affect an area for up to 12 weeks and then would suddenly disappear, almost as quickly as it had arrived, only to return several months later. This wave pattern matches descriptions of some earlier pandemics, and occurred in a less pronounced form in the milder pandemics of 1957–58 and 1968–70.
In terms of the loss of human lives, the Spanish flu was unprecedented in modern times. More people died during the pandemic than were killed in the First World War. The illness came on suddenly and progressed rapidly to respiratory failure and in some instances death. Many people died from bacterial disease after infection with influenza (known as secondary bacterial infection).
Worldwide, at least 50 million people are thought to have died, with unusually high numbers of deaths in young and healthy people. It has been estimated that about 25 per cent of the world’s population was infected. Global spread and severity were influenced by the war and the movement of troops.
The Spanish flu did not reach Australia until 1919, partly because of strict maritime quarantine implemented by the government. It began in Victoria, spread to New South Wales then to the rest of Australia. By the end of 1919 (when the Australian population was just over five million), around 10,000 Australians, mostly young adults, had died of influenza4 . As in other countries, health services in Australia were greatly stretched during this time.
Although we cannot be entirely sure, recent research suggests that the virus concerned evolved by adaptive mutation.
This information is current for 03 September, 2010
This information was issued on 05 December, 2008
Level of Pandemic Threat
PROTECT Phase
