The Spanish Flu (1918 pandemic) destroyed victims’ immune systems–this is a scary thing, very scary
Grace on flu-patrol (and no, it’s not about chimneys) pinged us SciHealth bloggers this morning with an article to Digg on some new research into the Spanish Flu (aka 1918 flu pandemic). Sure, why not, always willing to help. Then I read the post and had one of those OMG moments. Here’s an excerpt:
In an immune response, cytokines provide the body’s first line of defense by activating further responses and recruiting other immune cells to the sites of infection. Further investigation of the monkeys’ immune system revealed that certain types of cytokines increased to such proportions and became so overstimulated that they turned against their own host (the body) and attacked it. The virus also prevented the production of antiviral immune proteins, hence effectively blocking the body’s ability to stage a counter-attack.
Here is the bottom line. That strain of the flu was so deadly because it destroyed the bodies ability to fight it. It ravaged (that is the best word) the immune system. One of the great mysteries of the 1918 pandemic was why so many young, healthy people died and died very quickly. Usually the flu hits the youngest and oldest members of society hardest. Not the 1918. Looks like we now know why.
The implications of this are just immense. Can today’s anti-viral drugs slow down progression of a strain like this? Can today’s immune boosters even help? Would we know what was going on fast enough to be able to control it?
Of course all these questions are being looked at, I just hope they find answers quickly.
Tags: flu pandeminc, 1918 flu, Spanish flu
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