Question

What would be required to produce a new pandemic strain of influenza that would be as pathogenic as the 1918 strain?

Answer 1

To produce a new pandemic strain of influenza as pathogenic as the 1918 strain, an antigenic shift involving the recombination of avian and human viruses would be required. Crowding, poor sanitation, and rapid mobilization of large numbers of personnel and animals would also play a role. Additionally, the new strain would need to be capable of efficient person-to-person transmission.

Step-by-step explanation:

To produce a new pandemic strain of influenza that would be as pathogenic as the 1918 strain, several factors would be required:

1. An antigenic shift involving the recombination of avian and human viruses, similar to what happened in the 1918 pandemic. This would result in the emergence of a new strain with different surface antigens, making it more virulent and capable of spreading rapidly.
2. Crowding, poor sanitation, and rapid mobilization of large numbers of personnel and animals, as seen during World War I. These conditions would facilitate the dissemination of the new virus once it appears.
3. Ability to spread efficiently from person to person. In the case of the H7N9 influenza virus, it lacked this capability and did not become a global problem. However, if a new strain were to develop that could spread easily among humans, it could lead to a disastrous pandemic.