Deadly Flu Pandemic of 1918

Researchers have been trying to figure out why the flu pandemic of 1918 was so deadly, and now they say they have figured out what happened.  Scientists have discovered that a group of three genes allow the virus  to invade the lungs which caused pneumonia.

The discovery is causing some concern among scientists who say that it is still very possible for mutations to happen that could cause the ordinary flu to mutate into a dangerous pandemic strain.

The 1918 influenza pandemic was the worst infectious disease outbreak in human history, and was responsible for somewhere around 50 million deaths.

Experts say that a pandemic of influenza will more than likely strike again. Many experts are starting to take a hard look at the H5N1 avian influenza virus. they warn that a few mutations would make it into a pandemic that could kill millions globally within a few months.