The first antiviral drug was developed at Yale
In 1959, William Prusoff of Yale University discovered idoxuridine, the first effective antiviral that fights herpes by interfering…
The “Asian” influenza pandemic resulted in an estimated 70,000 deaths in the U.S. alone
In Feb. 1957, a new influenza A (H2N2) virus emerged in East Asia, triggering a pandemic (‘Asian Flu’)….
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”)….
CDC’s influenza branch designated a WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance and Control of Influenza
In 1956, the CDC’s Influenza Branch in Atlanta was designated a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for…
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…
Simian virus 40 accidentally administered to humans through contaminated Poliovirus vaccines
From 1955 through early 1963, millions of people were accidentally exposed to simian virus 40 (SV40) as a…
John Enders, Thomas Weller, and Frederick Robbins were awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
In 1954, John Franklin Enders and Thomas C. Peebles isolated measles virus from an 11-year-old boy, David Edmonston….
John Enders and Thomas Peebles isolated the measles virus in cell culture
In 1954, John Enders, known as “the Father of Modern Vaccines” and Thomas Peebles isolated the measles virus…
WHO’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System established
Since 1952, global influenza surveillance has been conducted through WHO’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). The…
The Zikus virus was identified in humans
In 1952, the Zika virus was identified in humans. The virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947….
DNA is found to be the genetic material of some viruses
In 1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase showed that only the DNA of a virus needs to enter…
The Chikungunya virus was first recognized and isolated in southern Tanzania
In 1952, the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was first recognized and isolated from Makonde Plateau in southern Tanzania. Chikungunya…
The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System was created by the WHO
In 1952, the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) was created by World Health Organization (WHO) to…
Monkey kidney tissue to be the most fertile environment for Polio virus growth
In 1952, Dr. Jonas Salk and his team found monkey kidney tissue to be the most fertile environment…
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Henrietta Lacks died from cervical cancer, and HeLa cell line was born
On Feb. 8, 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a tobacco farmer from Virginia died from cervical cancer, and a scientist…
The Zikus virus was discovered in Uganda
In 1947, the Zika virus was first discovered during research supported by the Rockefeller Foundation to study the…
Dr. Jonas Salk was recruited to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
In 1947, Dr. Jonas Salk was recruited from the University of Michigan by Dr. William S. McEllroy, dean…
Karl Habel cultivated mumps virus in embryonated eggs and devised serological tests for its presence
In 1945, Karl Habel cultivated mumps virus in embryonated eggs and devised serological tests for its presence. Habel…
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NCI scientists published first monograph that showed the mouse breast cancer “agent” was a filterable virus
In 1945, W. Ray Bryan, Michael B. Shimkin, Howard B. Andervont, Herbert Kahler and Thelma B. Dunn published…
Inactivated influenza vaccine was first licensed in the U.S.
In 1945, the inactivated influenza vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. The first vaccine was an inactivated,…
Karl Habel and John Enders isolated the mumps virus
In 1945, Karl Habel and John Enders isolated the mumps virus. Habel and Enders had successfully cultivated the…
Use of cell cultures for virus growth was discovered
In 1944, the use of cell cultures for virus growth was discovered. This allowed viruses to be cultured…
Karl Habel published his work in passaging a rubella virus isolate through chick embryos and monkeys
On Jul. 31, 1942, Karl Habel published “Transmission of Rubella to Macacus mulatta Monkeys” in Public Health Reports….
Karl Habel produced an improved, killed rabies vaccine that eliminated foreign brain tissue caused paralysis
On Sept. 6, 1940, Karl Habel produced an improved, killed rabies vaccine that eliminated foreign brain tissue that…
Influenza vaccine developed to protect U.S. military forces
In 1938, Thomas Francis, Jr., MD and Jonas Salk, MD served as lead researchers at the University of…
Sir Macfarlane Burnet discovered that influenza virus could be grown in embryonated hens’ eggs
In 1936, Sir Macfarlane Burnet discovered that influenza virus could be grown in embryonated hens’ eggs. This led…
Scientists created the first filter able to trap viruses
On Jul. 8, 1933, Christopher Andrewes, Laidlaw and W Smith from the Medical Research Council (MRC) reported that…
Wendell Stanley purified a sample of tobacco mosaic virus and finds crystals
In 1933, Wendell Stanley purified a sample of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and finds crystals. This suggested, contrary…
The etiology of ‘swine influenza’ was established
In 1931, Rockefeller Institute investigator Richard Shope published the first of three landmark papers that established the etiology…
Ralph Lillie demonstrated that the cause of psittacosis was a rickettsia-like organism instead of a virus
In 1930, Ralph Lillie demonstrated that the cause of psittacosis was a rickettsia-like organism (later placed in the…