title: [Influenza pandemics: past and future].
abstract: The circulation of numerous influenza virus subtypes in water birds constitutes a continuous threat with respect to emergence of a future influenza pandemic. The interspecies barrier is high but has already been breached 3 times this century, notably in 1918, 1957 and 1968. Still, it is impossible to predict when another pandemic will occur. Continuous and intensive surveillance of influenza viruses in man, pigs, and birds, especially in China, may provide the opportunity to prepare a vaccine timely in sufficient amounts, at least for the industrialised countries.
authors.affiliation: Nationaal Influenza Centrum van de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie, Erasmus Universiteit, afd. Virologie, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Rimmelzwaan
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fouchier
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines