Fickle Influenza

The author begins with Lord Chesterfield’s description to

• give an example of eighteenth century English writing

• prove the changeable nature of influenza

• illustrate the historic view of influenza as mild

Those who named the disease believed it could be traced to

• impure water

• the stars

• the gods

The influenza epidemic of 1918/19 differed from earlier epidemics in

• being fiercer in nature

• having a known source in the East

• Both A and B

Deaths in the 1918/19 epidemic outnumbered those from earlier plagues because

• the population of the world had grown

• people moved about more readily

• Both A and B

Influenza research began at a time when

• vaccines for some diseases had been made

• researchers knew the viral source of influenza

• many people opposed the use of laboratory animals

The 1933 experiment with ferrets

• proved that influenza was a virus disease

• changed the virus so that it affected mice

• Both A and B

One reason for further laboratory study of the virus was that

• scientists knew of many strains of the virus

• an attack of influenza did not give lasting immunity

• the London experiment was considered unsatisfactory

The account of laboratory work does not include details about the

• difficulty in matching influenza viruses and antibodies

• difficulty in producing vaccines for current viruses

• classification of viruses as types A, B, and C

Since 1948 the work of WHO has

• slowed the rate at which the influenza virus changes

• hastened the production of vaccines for new viruses

• prevented any worldwide epidemic of influenza

In the future the fight against influenza will

• require continued efforts to control the disease

• prevent the viruses from becoming more deadly

• end in victory for virus hunters and vaccine makers