Comment by KingAmongstDummies on 25/11/2024 at 13:41 UTC

2 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)

View submission: Are there any plagues in domesticated animals that came from human-borne diseases?

View parent comment

There was a huge influenza outbreak worldwide in the early 1900's.

From what I remember reading of this there were millions of casualties and the mortality rate was incredibly high.

Obviously most reports were about human deaths but I do recall vaguely from some talk show that part of the reason the epidemic lasted for so long was that it was jumping back and forth between humans and animals. This bit might not be accurate though but with how commonly stuff like the flue spreads to pets it isn't hard to believe it at least was a contributing factor whatever it's actual share.

Replies

Comment by iayork at 26/11/2024 at 02:16 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

As I said, "Human influenza viruses spread to domestic animals quite often, and have become endemic in pigs". The 1918 influenza pandemic you're referring to is the ultimate source of most swine influenza viruses in North America, though it's been overtaken by more recent avian influenza virus incursions in Europe and Asia.

Comment by [deleted] at 26/11/2024 at 02:05 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

[deleted]