Influenza virus is one of the biggest and yet one of the most insidious scourges to have hit humankind: from 1918 to 1920, the “Spanish Flu” pandemic killed 50 - 100 million people across the world; subsequent pandemics in 1957, 1968 and 1977 killed millions more, and the count is still unclear on the 2009 pandemic. However, in any given year up to 600 000 people die of so-called “annual flu” - yet universal vaccination against it is still a dream.
This book is aimed at informing students and educated lay people about the viruses, how they work, how pandemics arise - and what can be done to stop them, and specifically the use of vaccines.
The book may be read as is, or the images and interactive graphics in it used via a digital projector or TV screen as a graphic aid in talks and lectures.
