![Another Virus We Survived: Asian Flu Pandemic](http://frannieheh.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/image.jpg)
Another Virus We Survived: Asian Flu Pandemic
“The military missed it, and the World Health Organization missed it,” said Maurice Hilleman, the vaccine maker for the Asian Flu pandemic. As a result of creating a vaccine before the Asian Flu was widespread, it only lasted for one year from 1957-1958. Even though there was a vaccine, people were still panicking and spreading false rumors. Even though the Asian Flu killed many people, it still helped future scientific communities. Even during COVID-19, many scientists think that they can learn from the Asian Flu.
In 1957 a new pandemic emerged in Hong Kong called the Asian Flu, also known as H2N2. By June 1957, it reached the United States, where it first affected the U.S. navy and new military recruits in other places. The first wave peaked in October, affecting children returning to school. The second wave in January and February 1958 became deadlier and affected people over 65 years old. The Asian Flu came from a mutation in wild ducks combined with a pre-existing human strain. The symptoms included body aches, shaking suddenly all over the body, weakness, loss of appetite, and a fever. About 1.1 million died worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Maurice Hilleman was the first doctor to ever create a vaccine for Asian Flu before it was widely spread. According to an article by Becky Little, the day after Hilleman read about the Asian Flu, he started to develop a vaccine. Through the help of other organizations, they discovered a small group of 70-80-year-olds survived the Russian Flu and had antibodies to the virus. With this information, Hilleman warned people that by September 1957, a new flu pandemic would arrive in the U.S. Even though he met some resistance at first, he convinced some companies to start making the vaccine. When the Asian Flu arrived in the U.S, the U.S. was ready. The number of people dying in the U.S. and around the world slowed down. In the end, about 116,00 died in the U.S. Experts predicted that if it were not for Hilleman and the vaccine, the death toll would have reached 1 million.
Even though the government was trying their best to deal with Asian Flu, people were still chaotic. At first, Fairfax County closed 32 public schools to help prevent the spread of the sickness. The D.C. Generals also restricted people from visiting sick patients’. Even family members had to call or send letters. Even so, people were still paranoid, especially since it was during Cold War times. The Cold War was a fight between the North, led by the United States and the East Side, led by the Soviet Union and its Communists party. As a result of the Cold War, people started mostly spreading two rumors. Some said the new flu mutations were caused by nuclear testing in the Pacific, but the surgeon general insisted that that had not caused it. Others claimed that Communists planted germs causing the Asian Flu. To calm people down, the government claimed that it wasn’t possible since they have had pandemics in the past. There was a lot of calamity during those times, but the government tried their best to keep it stable. Scientists, doctors, and the government saved many lives by being observant and dealing with the flu before it was widely spread. In The Evening Star, Charles E. Brooks wrote, “The epidemic made history in more than one way.” It was the first time a pandemic had a vaccine before it was widespread. Unlike the Asian Flu, it was not until many people had Coronavirus when the government started taking action. Due to the lack of not catching the early signs for Coronavirus, scientists are now pressured to quickly create a vaccine. It is crucial for people to be observant in order to protect themselves and others.