Story of CDC : 1976 Swine Flu Vaccination Program

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). David J. Sencer CDC Museum.
• Description:
  In addition to the discovery of the Ebola Fever and Legionnaires’ Disease pathogens, another major disease event in 1976 was Swine flu. Earlier that year, the New Jersey State Health Department asked CDC to identify an illness spreading at Fort Dix Army Base. An influenza-like illness affecting over 200 recruits had caused one death. CDC tested throat cultures sent from the base and found in four of the samples the virus believed at the time to be H1N1, the 1918-19 flu pandemic pathogen. H1N1, or as it is more commonly known, swine flu, is a strain commonly found in pigs. In 1918, the virus mutated to infect humans, killing 500,000 people in the U.S. and more than 20 million worldwide. Surveillance at Fort Dix suggested human-to-human transmission, indicating that the illness could spread rapidly in the U.S.
• Content Notes:
  H1N1 -- Making the Case to Congress -- Lessons Learned -- Enrichment Modules.
• Subjects:
  CDC--history Disease Outbreaks Guillain-Barre Syndrome/chemically Induced History, 20th Century Influenza, Human/epidemiology Influenza, Human/history Influenza, Human/prevention & Control Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype Influenza Vaccines/adverse Effects Influenza Vaccines/history Mass Vaccination/history National Health Programs/history

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• Series:
  Story of CDC
• Document Type:
  Webpage
• Name as Subject:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• Genre:
  Exhibition
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Location:
  North America
• Collection(s):
  David J. Sencer CDC Museum
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:f6c1cd1a04a328d3870721365a4fb475796a29affaf17a5e354b4fb3c850b450
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/105120/cdc_105120_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 974.16 KB ]