Past Pandemics | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC

Past Pandemics | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC

1957-1958 Pandemic (H2N2 virus)

In February 1957, a new influenza A (H2N2) virus emerged in East Asia, triggering a pandemic (“Asian Flu”). This H2N2 virus was comprised of three different genes from an H2N2 virus that originated from an avian influenza A virus, including the H2 hemagglutinin and the N2 neuraminidase genes. It was first reported in Singapore in February 1957, Hong Kong in April 1957, and in coastal cities in the United States in summer 1957. The estimated number of deaths was 1.1 million worldwide and 116,000 in the United States.

1957 Additional Resources

• Glezen WP. Emerging infections: pandemic influenza. Epidemiol Rev. 1996;18(1):64-76.
• Kilbourne ED. Influenza pandemics of the 20th century. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Jan;12(1):9-14.
• Langmuir AD Epidemiology of Asian influenza, international conference on Asian influenza. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1961;83:2–14
• Viboud C, Simonsen L, Fuentes R, Flores J, Miller MA, Chowell G. Global Mortality Impact of the 1957-1959 Influenza Pandemic. J Infect Dis. 2016 Mar 1;213(5):738-45.