Hong Kong Flu?

Question

Does anyone remember the Hong Kong flu back in the 50's and if you had it what do you remember? I remember going through a whole roll of TP in 1 hour from runny nose and watering eyes. Never heard of anyone else ever having it.

Answer 1

Hong Kong flu: A pandemic of influenza A (H3N2) in 1968-69. This virus was first detected in Hong Kong in early 1968 and spread to the United States later that year. where it caused about 34,000 deaths, making it the mildest pandemic in the 20th century. Also known as Hong Kong influenza.

There could be several reasons why fewer people in the US died due to this virus. First, the Hong Kong flu virus was similar in some ways to the Asian flu virus that circulated between 1957 and 1968. Earlier infections by the Asian flu virus might have provided some immunity against the Hong Kong flu virus that may have helped to reduce the severity of illness during the Hong Kong pandemic.

Second, instead of peaking in September or October, like pandemic influenza had in the previous two pandemics, this pandemic did not gain momentum until near the school holidays in December. Since children were at home and did not infect one another at school, the rate of influenza illness among schoolchildren and their families declined.

Third, improved medical care and antibiotics that are more effective for secondary bacterial infections were available for those who became ill.

More info at the site listed below and at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Flu

Answer 2

I had it in 1968. It developed into pneumonia. I was sick in bed for over a month with high fever, and a cough so bad it made my nose bleed. I became malnutritioned and my son with whom I was pregnant came 8 weeks early. He almost died...had to have a complete blood transfusion. We're both fine now, but yes, I remember the Hong Kong Flu..ugh!