50 years ago, a flu pandemic spurred vaccine research
Excerpt from the September 21, 1968 issue of Science News
MAKING THE ROUNDS The influenza strain responsible for the Hong Kong flu pandemic of 1968, called H3N2 (shown here in a colorized microscope image), was also responsible for 2017–18’s severe flu season.
Dr. Fred Murphy/CDC, adapted by E. Otwell
Girding against a new strain
Flu comes in many kinds, and the current vaccine … has little effect against a newcomer that has afflicted at least 400,000 persons in Hong Kong.