-
The Mysteries of the Spanish Flu
The history of pandemics is filled with shocking events that have fundamentally shaped not only human life but also public health systems. Among these is the Spanish flu, which emerged unexpectedly in the early twentieth century following wars and spread rapidly worldwide. The significance of the Spanish flu is underscored not only by the number of fatalities but also by the evolutionary capabilities of the virus. The virus that caused the Spanish flu pandemic belongs to the H1N1 subtype and has living descendants to this day. American virologists highlight in a recent study that the H1N1 strain affected not only millions of people but also transferred to pigs, where it…
-
Hendra virus: A member of the Nipah and Langya virus family
The Hendra virus (HeV) infection is a unique zoonosis that can spread from animals to humans. This disease carries severe, often fatal consequences and was first transmitted among horses in Australia. The Hendra virus is found in its natural environment among fruit bats, which are members of the Pteropodidae family. The urine and other bodily fluids of these animals carry the pathogen, which can be a source of human infection, especially when contact with horses occurs. The Hendra virus was first isolated in the mid-1990s when an outbreak occurred near Brisbane. This disease affected 21 horses and several people, and since then, a limited number of cases have been observed.…
