Pneumonia Complicating Asian Influenza

Abstract

The epidemic of influenza which later became known as " Asian 'flu " apparently originated in China in February, 1957, and its causative organism, a new variant of influenza virus A, was first identified in cases which occurred in Hong Kong in April, 1957 (Meyer, Hilleman, Miesse, Crawford and Bankhead, 1957). The epi- demic spread rapidly across Asia and Europe, and appeared sporadically in Britain during the summer months. The first wave of infection occurred in York- shire; it spread almost immediately to the North and more slowly to the South, the North having the more severe experience Local outbreaks developed in many places in the latter half of August, but October was the peak month, and the infection had virtually disappeared by the end of November.