Why Are Flu Strains Named After Cities In Asia?
The flu. Every year, hundreds of millions of people around the world are affected by it. But have you ever wondered why the latest strain of flu is frequently identified as coming from the Far East or Southeast Asia? For example, the 1997-98 vaccine was designed to stop the Nanchang strain and the Harbin strain of flu. Both strains are named after cities in China. According to Earl Henderson, Ph.D., professor of microbiology at Temple University School of Medicine, there are a variety of reasons the flu always seems to originate in that part of the world. “The large population and crowded conditions in Asia, especially in China, make it a perfect place for new strains of the flu to arise,” he says. “The flu needs a large population to exist due to its rapid spread and the protective immunity that develops in people. In addition, vaccinations against the flu are not very common in Asia.” Henderson cites another reason. “People in Asia have a much closer relationship with animals than in
