© British Journal of General Practice, 2009. ‘Although we have had 30 years to prepare for what should be done in the event of an influenza pandemic, I think we have all been rushing around trying to improvise investigations with insufficient time to do it properly.
Shortly afterwards, it made landfall in the UK, and by September outbreaks were being reported in England, Wales, and Scotland. We can only hope that people will have taken advantage of their opportunities and at the end it may be possible to construct an adequate explanation of what happened.’1 The GMSC Chairman reported that he had recently attended a Ministry meeting, to devise a national procedure to cope with a large scale epidemic. Symptoms of H2N2 can include sudden fever, a dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache and muscle and joint pain. It is already being collected for just this purpose. There was some evidence of a limited return in the winter. As an entirely new strain there was no immunity in the populace and the first vaccines were not distributed until August in the US and October in the UK, and then on an extremely limited basis. Retrospective survey of the 1957 epidemic of Asian influenza, Research Correspondence Watson to Pinsent. These numbers dwarf fatalities from swine flu, but scientists caution that it is too early to predict how the virus may continue to evolve. The Times (28 September) reported that ‘emergency epidemic plans’ had been put into operation, which was denied; all that had been sent out were the usual reminders to be vigilant for epidemics over the winter. On 13 May 2009 the College received an email from the British Library asking if they could archive the section of the RCGP website devoted to H1N1 and pandemic planning. 30 Euston Square During the 46 weeks, June 23-May 10, the total deaths allocated to the disease were 151,446. The Hong Kong flu, also known as the 1968 flu pandemic, was a flu pandemic whose outbreak in 1968 and 1969 killed an estimated one to four million people globally.
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One GP recalled ‘we were amazed at the extraordinary infectivity of the disease, overawed by the suddenness of its outset and surprised at the protean nature of its symptomatology.’2 It peaked the week ending 17 October with 600 deaths reported in major towns in England and Wales.
Dr McDonald's quarterly report (November 1956—March 1957) mentioned a ‘remarkably low level of respiratory illness so far this winter.’ However, a Times newspaper comment (17 April) that ‘an influenza epidemic has affected thousands of Hong Kong residents’ heralded the start of rapid movement across the East with 100 000 cases in Taiwan by mid-May and over a million in India by June. With adults there was usually a connection to children; for example, parents, teachers, doctors, or a closed group such as the armed forces and football teams. Big stores offering the service include Boots, Superdrug, Asda and Tesco.
ACE G5–17, 21 Oct 1957, Epidemic Observation Unit Correspondence. Enjoy the adventures of Andy Capp and wife Flo every day, Perishers originally ran from 1959 to 2006. One woman in the best of health had obeyed instructions given her in a woman's magazine’.13. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. The incidence of known post-influenzal pneumonia rose during the pandemic — the percentage of deaths from this in the Midlands was 4% in the week ending 14 September, but by 19 October it was 22%. Six weeks before the virus struck in the UK there were almost daily reports in the press despite the advice of the World Health Organization that it was unlikely to strike until the winter. Watson was intrigued;neither he nor his assistant had developed any antibodies despite daily exposure for 4 weeks: I think that we must be very sure of the need for any extra pre-epidemic publication before we rush into print.’4, By July there had been a number of localised outbreaks, and the Minister of Health was asked to issue a statement to allay fears, having declined to do so a month earlier. Flu pandemic could be as severe as 1968 . The flu epidemic appeared to be over in December, but many places saw a second wave of the epidemic in January and February of 1958. In the UK 21 million people qualify for the free jab, available at GP surgeries, midwifery services and some pharmacies. From The Times: July 8, 1920A report on the great influenza epidemic has been issued by the Registrar-General. John Fry treated 15% of his list and suspected that another 10% had not bothered to consult him. So wrote J Corbett McDonald of the Public Health Laboratory Service, to Ian Watson, Director of the College of General Practitioners' Epidemic Observation Unit in the autumn of 1957.
NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person to whom you are recommending the page knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. Flu infections are usually most dangerous for the elderly, the very young, or people with compromised immune systems. Please, Listen to Times Radio for the latest well-informed debate, expert analysis and breaking news. In a non-epidemic year there are between 3,000 and 4,000 deaths from flu. Another called for an announcement that the influenza was highly contagious but quite harmless without evidence of serious complications. A flu strain that has laid low at least 98,000 Australians is on its way here and could cause our worst such epidemic for 50 years. 1957–1958, Research Correspondence Watson to Pinsent. As the Manchester Guardian put it: ‘Fit Go Down with Flu’ (20th August). ACE G15–1, 1957. Thank you for recommending British Journal of General Practice. Was there any central mechanism to ensure that MOH reports were reviewed and the most effective measures identified and disseminated?
Sophisticated computer models are also being used to simulate the virus's spread around the country over the coming months and how long it may last. But experts fear it may go higher this year.