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Avian Flu Timelines

Key scientific and political milestones from around the world, charting the first appearance of H5N1 avian flu in Hong Kong in 1997 to its global spread today, and links to archives.

Past Pandemic Timeline

1890

First recorded recent influenza pandemic

1918

The "Spanish Flu" pandemic, caused by the H1N1 influenza virus, kills more than 40 million people

  • The origin of H1N1 has been the subject of many studies - some suggest it may have gone directly from birds to humans, while others suggest it may have involved incubation in an intermediate host, such as the pig, or another as yet unidentified animal host. (see 'Molecular virology').
1957

Asian flu pandemic kills 100,000 people, due to the H2N2 influenza virus.

1968

Hong Kong flu pandemic kills 700,000 people, due to the H3N2 virus.

  • Both H2N2 (1957 pandemic) and H3N2 are likely to have arisen by exchange of genes between avian and human flu viruses, possibly following dual infection in humans. (see 'Evidence of an absence').

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