1918-1919

The Spanish Flu, H1N1, circles the globe at the end of World War I, killing half a million U.S. citizens and between 40 million and 100 million worldwide. It remains the deadliest influenza outbreak for nearly a century. European eye witnesses claim that the flu was an accidentally manufactured disease transmitted by soldiers and civilians who were vaccinated for typhoid and diphtheria, while unvaccinated populations were largely unaffected.

1924

The first outbreak of HPAI avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, appears in the U.S. but does not infect humans.

1957-1958

The Asian Flu, H2N2, causes the second pandemic of the 20th century and kills one million people worldwide, including 70,000 Americans.

1968-1969

The Hong Kong Flu, H3N2, marks the third flu pandemic of the 20th century and kills some 34,000 Americans. Scientists partially credit natural immunity from the Asian Flu for the relatively low death toll.

Mid-1970s

Scientists discover that avian flu constantly circulates among wild birds and can be transmitted to domesticated birds.

1976

Swine Flu breaks out among soldiers stationed at Fort Dix, N.J. Although the virus causes only one death, public health officials fear another pandemic of Spanish Flu proportions. President Gerald Ford instates a nationwide vaccination program that reaches 25% of the population. Twenty-five people die when the shot causes their immune system to attack itself.

1983

The second outbreak of HPAI avian influenza occurs in the U.S. Like the first incident, the epidemic does not spread to humans. However, it is only brought under control after the destruction of 17 million chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

May 1997

The first human to be infected by H5N1 bird flu dies in Hong Kong. By December, eighteen cases have been reported and six more have died. The epidemic ends when officials destroy 1.4 million chickens and ducks.

2003

Avian influenza sweeps Asia and the Netherlands, causing dozens of deaths ... before migrating to at least two poultry farms in Delaware. Scientists determine that this H5N1 strain is a mutation of the 1997 flu.

April 2003

Another bird flu - H7N7 - hits the Netherlands, infecting 80 humans and causing one death.

2004-2008

H5N1 continues to spread, appearing in Indonesia, Turkey, and Canada while remaining a threat in Southeast Asia. Despite the high incidence of death within infected families, the World Health Organization (WHO) denies human-to-human transmission of avian influenzas.

April 2009

WHO denies suspected human-to-human transmission of bird flu in Egypt. That same month, H1N1, dubbed swine flu, spreads from Mexico City to schools in the United States. Human-to-human transmission is confirmed. The outbreak spreads to Israel, Spain, and New Zealand, making it the fifth influenza pandemic to affect human populations in less than 100 years.

October 2012

A new mutation of H5N1 hits poultry farms in Delaware, spreading throughout the United States and Canada via contaminated birds and human-to-human contact before migrating overseas. Nearly simultaneously, a virulent strain of H1N1 originates in South American pig farms, appearing in the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia before it is detected by WHO. The elderly and the young are the first to succumb by the hundreds of thousands.

November 2012

WHO responds to the H1N1 and H5N1 outbreaks with an aggressive immunization campaign. The vaccine has unintended consequences. Some 23% of its recipients experience complete immune system failure, leading to high fever followed by brain swelling reminiscent of encephalitis. Nearly all cases result in fatality. Perhaps 5% of these terminal patients experience disorientation and rage similar to that observed in animals afflicted by rabies, attacking family members and care-givers with unreasoning fury before succumbing to brain death. The media dubs this strange reaction the "Rage Virus" in honor of the films 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later.

December 2012

As the worldwide spread of H1N1 and H5N1 continues unabated despite mass slaughter of pigs and domestic fowl in affected areas, WHO first denies and then admits human-to-human spread of the Rage Virus via saliva, sweat, and blood.

December 21, 2012

THE DEAD RISE.

December 24, 2016

Zulu invades. New Haven Village is destroyed and its residents take refuge at Edgewater Farm in Chesterton, MD.

January 16, 2017

The search for a new home begins.