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Age-Specific Mortality During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Unravelling the Mystery of High Young Adult Mortality.

Authors :
Gagnon, Alain
Miller, Matthew S.
Hallman, Stacey A.
Bourbeau, Robert
Herring, D. Ann
Earn, David JD.
Madrenas, Joaquín
Source :
PLoS ONE; Aug2013, Vol. 8 Issue 8, p1-9, 9p
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

The worldwide spread of a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in 2009 showed that influenza remains a significant health threat, even for individuals in the prime of life. This paper focuses on the unusually high young adult mortality observed during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Using historical records from Canada and the U.S., we report a peak of mortality at the exact age of 28 during the pandemic and argue that this increased mortality resulted from an early life exposure to influenza during the previous Russian flu pandemic of 1889–90. We posit that in specific instances, development of immunological memory to an influenza virus strain in early life may lead to a dysregulated immune response to antigenically novel strains encountered in later life, thereby increasing the risk of death. Exposure during critical periods of development could also create holes in the T cell repertoire and impair fetal maturation in general, thereby increasing mortality from infectious diseases later in life. Knowledge of the age-pattern of susceptibility to mortality from influenza could improve crisis management during future influenza pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19326203
Volume :
8
Issue :
8
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
PLoS ONE
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
90070444
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069586