first human case of mpox Reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In 1970, the first human case of mpox was reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)…
President Richard Nixon renounced the use of lethal biological agents and weapons
On Nov. 25, 1969, President Richard Nixon issued his “Statement on Chemical and Biological Defense Policies and Programs”…
The CDC opened its first biological containment lab
In 1969, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened its first permanent high-containment laboratory (HCL)…
A second live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 26, 1968, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed a second live, further attenuated measles…
Mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax by Merck) was licensed
On Dec. 28, 1967, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mercks mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax)….
Study showed relationship between human and avian flu viruses
In 1967, Dr. H.G. Pereira and colleagues propose a relationship between human and avian flu viruses after a…
The Serum Institute of India was founded
On Jun. 12, 1966, the Serum Institute of India was founded in 1966 by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla with…
USDA eradicated New World screwworm from the United States
In 1966, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) eradicated New World screwworm (NWS) from the United States using sterile…
The FDA licensed amantadine, a new antiviral medication, as a prophylactic against influenza A
In 1966, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed amantadine (marketed as Symmetrel) to Du Pont, a…
CDC – NASA Technology of Spacecraft Sterilization report released
On Feb. 9, 1965, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – NASA Technology of Spacecraft…
A virus (the Epstein-Barr virus) was linked to human cancer (Burkitt lymphoma) for the first time
In 1964, a new herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), was discovered in cultured tumor cells derived from a Burkitt…
Trivalent oral polio vaccine was licensed
On Jun. 25, 1963, the Trivalent oral polio vaccine was licensed. The vaccine development began in 1957 by…
U.S. Congress established the Immunization Grant Program
In 1963, the U.S. Congress established the Immunization Grant Program; polio incidence plummeted to only 396 reported cases…
Oral polio vaccine type 3 and trivalent product licensed in the U.S.
On Mar. 27, 1962, the Sabin oral polio vaccine (OPV) type 3 MOPV was licensed in the U.S.,…
Oral polio vaccine types 1 and 2 was developed by Dr. Albert Sabin
In 1962, oral polio vaccine types 1 and 2, developed by Dr. Albert Sabin and grown in monkey…
CDC launched the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System
In 1962, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System….
Outbreak in South Africa raises possibility of wild birds as a possible reservoir for influenza A viruses
In 1961, influenza virus was first isolated from wild birds in South Africa, from common terns (Sterna hirundo)….
U.S. Surgeon General recommended annual influenza vaccination
In 1960, the U.S. Surgeon General, in response to substantial morbidity and mortality during the 1957-58 pandemic, recommends…
mpox was first discovered
In 1958, mpox (MPVX) was first discovered when two nonfatal outbreaks of a pox-like disease were reported in…
The CDC responded to cholera and smallpox epidemics in what is now Bangladesh
In 1958, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent a team of EIS officers to…
New H2N2 flu virus emergedﾠ to trigger a pandemic
In Feb. 1957, a new influenza A (H2N2) virus emerged in East Asia, triggering a pandemic (“Asian Flu”)….
Dr. Jonas Salk received gold medal from President Dwight Eisenhower, designating him “a benefactor of mankind”
On Jan. 27, 1956, Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the Polio vaccine released in 1955, received a special…
Diagnostics | Disease | Infectious Disease | Influenza | Life Science History | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Children’s Orthopedic Hospital opened the Northwest’s first Poison Control Center
On Jan. 1, 1956, Children’s Orthopedic Hospital opened the Northwest’s first Poison Control Center to advise callers on…
FDA hired temporary investigators to prevent polio vaccine black market
On Aug. 17, 1955, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the hiring of 48 temporary investigators…
Officials discover polio cases after vaccine produced by Cutter Laboratories accidently contained live virus
On Apr. 26, 1955, Officials first noticed an increase in reported polio cases in California. Soon it was…
Salk polio vaccine was announced
On Apr. 12, 1955, the polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh was…
Convocation held at the University of Michigan proclaimed “The Vaccine Works!”
On Apr. 12, 1955, a convocation was held at the University of Michigan (UM), where Dr. Thomas Francis…
The Cutter Incident, a production error, caused some polio vaccine to be tainted with live polio virus
In April 1955, Cutter Laboratories, located in Berkeley, California and one of several companies licensed by the U.S….
The Polio Vaccination Assistance Act was enacted by U.S. Congress
In 1955, the Polio Vaccination Assistance Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress, the first federal involvement in…
CDC established the Polio Surveillanceﾠ Program
On Apr. 28, 1955, The National Poliomyelitis Surveillance Program was established by the Surgeon General of the Public…