Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-266).

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Microbiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983.

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983. / Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Microbiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

<p>In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic killed an estimate number of between 50 and 100 million people worldwide. 40 years later a new influenza pandemic, the Asian flu spread throughout the world. The Asian flu hit a large proportion of the world’s population but the case-fatality rate was lower and an estimated number of 2 to 4 million people died in the pandemic. In order for today’s governments to formulate good preparedness plan for future influenza pandemics, studying previous pandemics can give better understanding of how the community might be affected. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Asian flu pandemic on the Swedish military forces. By seeing if the regiment was affected by the Asian flu one can then assume that the whole society was affected. Data from Swedish regiments has been collected from the Defence Medical Administration Service at the National Archives and processed trough SPSS. The findings show that there where an increase of the amount of sick as well as the number of sick leaves during 1957 compared to previous and later years. Because of the increase in sick leaves one can draw the conclusion that the society has a great risk of being influenced. Hence, a preparedness plan will be even more important. Conclusion: The community is affected by influenza pandemic in both an economical and a societal level. The effects are short in time since infected recover quite quick. However, there are effects which could be better handled if the government is prepared and has conducted a plan for when the next pandemic influenza strikes.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-199).

At the end of February 1957, the WHO announced that a highly contagious flu epidemic was raging in China, where hundreds of thousands of people had fallen ill. This flu then spreads with furious speed over the rest of the world and becomes known as the Asian flu. The main purpose of the essay is to use a qualitative content analysis to investigate and compare how the Asian flu pandemic was portrayed in the Swedish newspapers Norrskensflamman and Dagens Nyheter at its outbreak in 1957. The reason why these two newspapers have been chosen is due to their differences in quantity, political tendency and their geographical locations. Both dailies have also been available digitally. Based on own investigations in the thesis, as well as research on previous epidemics that have affected Sweden, three themes have been identified; panic, vaccines and societal change. These are a starting point for seeking answers to what the portrayal looks like, what differences there are between the newspapers and whether Norrbotten is affected in a different way compared to the rest of Sweden. The articles on the Asian flu that have been investigated have been located in the two newspapers and compared in relation to each other. The essay shows both similarities and differences in the newspapers' reporting of the Asian flu, where the most prominent are the panic aspects. Together, both newspapers report a much lower death toll from the flu than the actual one, but differ in how much responsibility they take to prevent public panic, for example through word choice. Their early reporting on the work with vaccines also helps to calm and convey that the situation is under control. On the other hand, the content of the articles changes quickly when it is clear that the infection is raging in Sweden. Information in the newspapers regarding societal changes is sparse and there are few indications that they are permanent.There are no clear indications that Norrbotten was hit much harder by the Asian flu than the rest of Sweden, quite the opposite.

In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic killed an estimate number of between 50 and 100 million people worldwide. 40 years later a new influenza pandemic, the Asian flu spread throughout the world. The Asian flu hit a large proportion of the world’s population but the case-fatality rate was lower and an estimated number of 2 to 4 million people died in the pandemic. In order for today’s governments to formulate good preparedness plan for future influenza pandemics, studying previous pandemics can give better understanding of how the community might be affected. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Asian flu pandemic on the Swedish military forces. By seeing if the regiment was affected by the Asian flu one can then assume that the whole society was affected. Data from Swedish regiments has been collected from the Defence Medical Administration Service at the National Archives and processed trough SPSS. The findings show that there where an increase of the amount of sick as well as the number of sick leaves during 1957 compared to previous and later years. Because of the increase in sick leaves one can draw the conclusion that the society has a great risk of being influenced. Hence, a preparedness plan will be even more important. Conclusion: The community is affected by influenza pandemic in both an economical and a societal level. The effects are short in time since infected recover quite quick. However, there are effects which could be better handled if the government is prepared and has conducted a plan for when the next pandemic influenza strikes.