Is H1N1 Mutating to Resemble Its 1918 Cousin?

In 1918, a deadly flu spread through the world, killing millions of people. The initial spring wave was mild and killed few, but in the fall, several people died from a violent form of pneumonia. This pneumonia filled the lungs with blood, and many patients hemorrhaged blood, often through the nose and mouth, but sometimes through the ears. This virus was H1N1. Pigs caught this H1N1 virus and have been harboring it for decades. Earlier this year, humans in Mexico caught the virus, which had gone through countless generations in the past 90 years. Although several people in Mexico died initially, the virus has been fairly mild, with most of the casualties occurring in people with underlying medical conditions. Unfortunately, H1N1 still has the capacity to kill, and may have mutated into a more deadly form in the Ukraine. Symptoms from some Ukranian patients strangely resemble those of the 1918 form of H1N1 influenza.

1918 H1N1 Influenza Symptoms

During the fall wave of the 1918 H1N1 outbreak, also known as the Spanish Flu, the symptoms that some people experiences created fear. Many victims would contract pneumonia; many victims had their lungs fill with blood. One complication of this form of influenza caused hemorrhaging from mucus membranes, including the nose, stomach, intestines, and even ears. Some victims were seemingly healthy one minute, but dead within hours; there were a few cases where people would seem to be healthy, then dropped dead instantly. In some cases, people would turn blue from the lack of oxygen. The normal flu symptoms of nausea, fever, diarrhea and aches were also present, but the ferocity of this virus caused some to wonder if what was killing people was actually the plague.

Has H1N1 Mutated in the Ukraine?

Up until recently, the 2009 form of H1N1 influenza has been relatively mild, with most of the deaths occurring in individuals who already had some form of underlying illness. Recent developments in the Ukraine suggest that the virus may have mutated into a strain more akin to its distant 1918 cousin. In the Zakarpattya region, located in the western Ukraine, six dead young people displayed symptoms of severe hemorrhagic pneumonia, with inflammation of the nasal cavities. Autopsies revealed that their lungs were soaked with blood. Rumors have been flying around the internet that this is not H1N1, but pneumonic plague or something else. Ukrainians are panicking; schools and movie theaters have been shut down, and much of the population is wearing masks. The presidential election may be postponed as a result of the illness.

The virus seems to have spread like wildfire in the Ukraine. According to the Kyiv Post on October 30^th, 951 people had been hospitalized, and 11 people had died of H1N1. By November 13^th, just slightly over two weeks later, 1.25 million people had contracted the "mystery flu," which seems more aggressive than ordinary H1N1. 65,000 people had to be hospitalized for this flu, and 239 were reported dead.

There has been an uptick in H1N1 cases in other parts of the world as well. Belarus, Russia, Norway, Bulgaria, and India have all seen an uptick in flu cases.

Sources:

"1.25 Million Contract Mystery Flu in Ukraine as Flu Cases Spike in Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Serbia, Norway, India, and Canada." The Bird Flu Pandemic.com, 13 November 2009. http://thebirdflupandemic.com/archives/1-25-million-contract-mystery-flu-in-ukraine-as-flu-cases-spike-in-russia-belarus-bulgaria-serbia-norway-india-and-canada

Alphonso, Caroline, and Howlett, Karen. "Second H1N1 Wave Takes Lethal Toll on Canadians." The Globe and Mail, 13 November 2009. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/h1n1-swine-flu/second-h1n1-wave-takes-lethal-toll-on-canadians/article1361766/

Barry, John M. The Great Influenza. Penguin Books.

"Doctors Learned Why Ukrainians Dying!" MigNews.com.ua, 13 November 2009. http://mignews.com.ua/en/categ408/articles/378759.html

Miskiw, Greg. "Million Hit by 'Plague Worse Than Swine Flu'". Sunday Express, 15 November 2009. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/140492/Million-hit-by-plague-worse-than-swine-flu-

"Swine Flu May Postpone Ukrainian Election" New Zealand Herald, 7 November 2009. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10607877&ref=rss

"Unidentified Flue Outbreak in Western Ukraine". Zik.com. "http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2009/10/29/202374" 29 October 2009.

"Yuschenko: Swine Flu Death Toll Reaches 11 in Ukraine." Kyiv Post, 30 October 2009. http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/51532/