Influenza virus research

This 2005 photograph depicts one of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s staff microbiologists examining reconstructed 1918 Pandemic Influenza Virus contained within a calibrated vial with a supernatant culture medium.

The photo is taken in a Biosafety Level 3-enhanced laboratory setting, where scientists work beneath a flow hood, where air outside the hood is pulled into the hood's confines and is then filtered of any pathogens before being recirculated inside the self-contained laboratory atmosphere.

The 1918 virus was recreated in order to identify the characteristics that made this organism such a deadly pathogen. Research efforts such as this, enables researchers to develop new vaccines and treatments for future pandemic influenza viruses.

The 1918 Spanish flu epidemic was caused by an influenza A (H1N1) virus, killing more than 500,000 people in the United States, and up to 50 million worldwide. The possible source was a newly emerged virus from a swine or an avian host of a mutated H1N1 virus. Many people died within the first few days after infection, and others died of complications later. Nearly half of those who died were young, healthy adults. Influenza A (H1N1) viruses still circulate today after being introduced again into the human population in the 1970s.

Italiano: Maschera a pieno facciale e guanti in lattice. Scienziati del centro di ricerca CDC che lavorano sull'influenza in condizioni di bio sicurezza.

Português: Máscara facial com insuflamento de ar. Cientista realizando pesquisa sobre o vírus influenza em altas condições de segurança biológica.

cdc biology public health bsl 3 laboratories centers for disease control and prevention health sciences influenza pandemics influenzavirus powered air purifying respirators center for disease control us center for disease control cdc public health image library high resolution laboratory science veterinary

1970 - 1979

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