Influenza past, present and future

The first of the three influenza pandemics that occurred in the 20th century is estimated to have killed over 50 million people. Based on scientific advances, what do we know about the 1918-20 pandemic? What lessons does it teach about preventing pandemics and containing outbreaks when they do occur?

• Richard Pebody, director clinical and emerging infections of the UKs health security agency, explores the deadly 1918-20 pandemic.
• Thorsten Wolff, head of the Division for Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, talks us through the scientific discoveries that helped to explain the virus that caused the 1918-20 pandemic, and the ongoing work of the National Influenza centre in Berlin.
• Nicola Lewis, Director of the Worldwide Centre for Influenza at the Francis Crick Institute, UK, explains their work to monitor seasonal flu and pick up changes in flu strains that could have pandemic potential.