http://www.thestate.com/mld/charlotte/living/health/12839259.htm?source=rss&channel=charlotte_healthHistory's worst flu pandemic, the Spanish flu of 1918-19, infected about 25 percent of the world's population, causing 20 million to 50 million deaths. That's a mortality rate of 1 percent to 2 percent, which is about what officials expect of a new pandemic, Engel said.
He doubts the next flu pandemic will be as bad as the Spanish flu outbreak because today's antibiotics could prevent many deaths from bacterial pneumonia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/09/national/09flu.htmlDr. Kilbourne emphasized that medical care had improved greatly since 1918. Although some flu victims then turned blue overnight and drowned from blood, with fluid leaking into their lungs, many more died of what are now believed to be bacterial infections, which can be treated with antibiotics.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
