1957 & 1968Peer-reviewedWell documented
The Asian and Hong Kong Flu Pandemics
On the timeline · around 1957 & 1968 · The Modern Age
What happened
Two influenza pandemics struck in the mid-20th century. In 1957 a new H2N2 virus — the 'Asian flu' — emerged in East Asia and spread worldwide, killing over a million people. In 1968 a related H3N2 virus, the 'Hong Kong flu,' did much the same. Faster vaccine production and antibiotics for secondary infections helped keep their tolls well below that of 1918.
Why it matters
The 1957 and 1968 pandemics were reminders that influenza remains a recurring global threat, each new strain capable of circling the planet. They spurred the international influenza surveillance and vaccine systems that still guard against the next flu pandemic.