Image Courtesy: Lasker Foundation

Influenza is a potentially devastating infectious disease, commonly spread through coughing and sneezing in humans. The disease is also spread through contact with the infected droppings of birds. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting. More serious cases may lead to pneumonia, which may be fatal, especially when contracted by young children or frail, older adults. Though today it’s common to refer to the “24-hour flu,” this less serious illness is actually unrelated to influenza – its cause is gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Prior to Francis’ discovery of the flu virus, and the development of the vaccine to fight against it, influenza claimed millions of lives worldwide. Descriptions of human influenza date back over 2,000 years, and it has been responsible for several pandemics or worldwide outbreaks.

Francis continued to develop his expertise in virology and studying how viruses spread. He worked closely with the military as the human influenza virus had dealt the armed forces a huge blow during World War I, and the military was determined not to let it happen again. That year, Francis also joined the newly formed School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. It was here that the “magic” began. Francis not only isolated the influenza virus, he also showed that more than one strain of the virus existed. This is particularly relevant today, as year-by-year new flu vaccines are reformulated to fight against the most dominant strains. Francis also developed the first effective vaccine to fight against influenza. His was a “killed-virus” vaccine. This type of vaccine uses a dead influenza virus. Since the virus is dead, it can’t give the disease, but it still causes the body to react and develop immunity. This continues to be the method used in influenza vaccines today.

Francis left his mark on many lives. His influenza vaccine has directly saved over one million lives. But, his indirect reach is even more significant. When Francis went to the University of Michigan, he built a virology lab and established a Department of Epidemiology. Epidemiology is the study of how diseases are spread through a population and how to contain them.  A former student remembers him as a “demanding leader” who insisted on precise scientific standards. One of Francis’ first students, pursuing postgraduate work in virology, was Jonas Salk who went on to develop the polio vaccine.

Introduction by Tim Anderson

Table of Contents

Key Insight

Key Experiments or Research

Quotes by the Scientist

Quotes About the Scientist

Anecdotes

Fun Trivia About the Science

Personal Information

Scientific Discovery Timeline

Recommended Books About the Science

Books by the Scientist

Books About the Scientist

Awards

Major Academic Papers Written by the Scientist

Curriculum Vitae

Sources/References