Why do respiratory viruses commonly cause pandemics?

Abstract

With an ever growing global population and increased international travel, pandemics are now expected to occur more frequently. Influenza is the most common cause of pandemics during the last century, with the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic causing up to 50 million deaths. Influenza pandemics occur at unpredictable intervals when a novel virus arises by changing its viral host specificity to spread in humans, with pigs acting as a mixing vessel for avian and human viruses. 

Human coronaviruses have circulated globally for long periods, causing seasonal colds, but failed to cause global pandemics likely due to less transmissibility between humans. The recent COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus lead to unprecedented global infections/deaths as well as social and economic disruption. 

Tonight we will focus on these two pandemic viruses influenza and SARS-CoV-2, how they evolve, infect and cause disease, and how the immune system tackles new virus variants.
 

Foredragsholderne 

Rebecca Jane Cox Brokstad, Universitetet i Bergen: Om influensa som pandemisk agens

Nina Langeland, Universitetet i Bergen: Om SARS-CoV-2

Arnaud Marchant, European Plotkin Institute: On immunity and pandemic agens

Bilde

Rebecca Jane Cox Brokstad, Nina Langeland og Arnaud Marchant. Foto: UIB og Institute for Medical Immunology