[Tone]

[Westinghouse Broadcasting Company]

[Carl Ide:] In the public interest, the Westinghouse Broadcasting Company 

and the University of Pittsburgh, one of the nation's major health centers,

in cooperation with the American Medical Societyand the United States Public Health Service,

bring you "The Silent Invader," an up-to-the-minute report on Asian influenza.

[Dr. Carl Ide:] How do you do? I'm Carl Ide.

Throughout history, mankind has been forced to wage many battles in order to protect 

his family or nation against misfortune, disaster, or even possible extinction. 

Now sometimes these wars have been...well they've been catastrophic. 

There was the catastrophe of 1918 when an influenza epidemic 

swept through our own nation as well as the entire world. 

Unlike the battles of nation-against-nation, or humanity against the forces of nature,

when man has often had an opportunity to prepare himself. 

The battles against disease throughout the centuries have often found man in the 

unfortunate position of having to combat this enemy only after it had infiltrated 

his community and infected much of the population. 

Recently, you've become aware of a pandemic or a worldwide epidemic, 

which originated in the Far East and is now known as Asian influenza. 

Because of the alertness and efficiency of the United States Public Health Service, 

and the World Health Organization, a detection system similar to that of the aircraft spotting 

has been established throughout the world and has enabled us to recognize and follow the 

progress of Asian influenza as it circles the globe. 

Health authorities expect an outbreak this fall and winter in the United States. 

But not in such portions as in the 1918 epidemic. 

Now the man upon whose shoulders rests the responsibility for preparing the United States for 

the impending battle with Asian influenza, is Dr. Leroy E. Burney, 

Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service. 

Dr. Burney, I imagine you and your staff have been gathering quite a tremendous 

amount of material on Asian flu. 

Now it seems to me that everybody I know has had and has talked about influenza. 

But I don't think anyone really knows what it is.

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well, Carl it's a, one of the upper respiratory infections, 

something like a cold, only it's caused by a flu virus. 

And the difference between the Asian influenza and the influenza that we've been having all of 

these past few years is that this strain began in, the strain of the virus began in Hong Kong and 

spread from Hong Kong to the rest of the world including the United States.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm. 

Well, every year influenza is a problem in our communities. 

I'm sure it is in yours, too. 

Why are we suddenly so all concerned about it now?

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well, that's a very good question. 

We are concerned because in the other countries in which it's appeared, and even in the outbreaks 

that we've had so far in this country, the attack rate has been 15 to 20 percent of the population. 

And this attack rate occurs in about four to six weeks. 

For example, in metropolitan Pittsburgh, with approximately one million people, 

if we had this flu strike here, you would have approximately 200,000 people 

who would become ill in a four to six weeks' period. 

And this, of course, would make a tremendous impact upon the economy of this particular area.

[Carl Ide:] That's understandable. 

Well, we've all heard of outbreaks here in this country Dr. Burney, exactly how far has it spread?

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well, it's spread all over the United States. 

The first cases occurred, surprisingly enough, on the East Coast rather than on the West coast 

among Navy personnel at Newport, Rhode Island. 

And then the second group occurred a few days later in both Navy 

and civilian personnel in San Diego. 

Since that time, of course, which was about the first of June, it has spread in localized outbreaks 

throughout Grinnell, Iowa, to the Boy Scout Jamboree in Pennsylvania, to Louisiana,

and to actually almost all of the states in the United States.

[Carl Ide:] I didn't realize that actually that was Asian flu that hit that jamboree in our own state. 

It was Asian flu?[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] That's right it was.

[Carl Ide:] Well, from what I've been able to learn, Dr. Burney, not many people have died as a result 

of Asian influenza in the rest of the world. 

Now do you think the same will hold true here in the United States?

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] We have the belief, now based upon the experience of 

Asian influenza in the other countries,

in South America at the present time, where it is in epidemic proportions,

and as a result of the outbreaks in this country so far, that it is a mild infection, 

and with a very low mortality rate. 

And we believe that it will continue to be both a mild infection and have a very low death rate.

[Carl Ide:] Well, is there the possibility that Asian flu might turn into--

if I may use the word--a killer?

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well, that is a possibility, of course. 

And that has happened in preceding yearswhen we have had epidemics. 

Back in 1888, when we had a large epidemic, and then many of us recall the 1918-19 

epidemic when we had a mild influenza epidemic in the spring of 1918. 

And then in the fall we had a large outbreak of very virulent influenza, 

followed by serious complications.

And then another wave hit us in the February or March of 1919. 

And at that time, as you may recall, in that whole period, we had about 20 million cases in the 

United States, and about 850,000 deaths. 

But I would like to add that conditions are quite different now than they were then. 

In the first place, we have a mild strain of influenza, not a virulent strain. 

In the second place, we have the antibiotics to combat any complications that might arise, 

which we did not have in 1918.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm. Well doctor, with the disease spreading so rapidly, 

what exactly now are we doing to combat it?

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well actually Carl we are doing, trying to do three things. 

One is to develop as rapidly as possible the only preventive agent that we have against 

influenza, and that is the vaccine against this particular strain of the vaccine...

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] of the virus. 

And that is being done in six of the large pharmaceutical manufacturers of this country. 

The strain was collected by an alert US Army medical team in Tokyo, 

and sent back to this country, and then given to the US Public Health Service. 

We distribute it to the manufacturers, and they, in turn, actually began to manufacture the vaccine 

before we had had the first case in this country. 

So now our job is to get more of that vaccine available, and to get the public to use it. 

Number two, we have to be prepared to take care of the individuals who become ill. 

And we have been working since early June with the American Medical Association,

the American Hospital Association, state and territorial health officers, voluntary groups, and others,

to prepare for taking care of those who become ill. 

And finally, the matter of having an alert and an informed public. 

One who will be aware of the facts without being unduly alarmed. 

And certainly this program of the Westinghouse Broadcast Company is a good example of 

public service to have an alert, but not an alarmed public.

[Carl Ide:] Well Dr. Burney, you and your public health service crew, if I can use that word, crew, 

have certainly seemed to make great strides in order to 

get us ready for this possible epidemic in such a very short time.

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well, we've had a lot of help, I can assure you Carl, in doing this. 

It hasn't been a one-man or a one-organization show. 

As I said previously, we have had the full cooperation and support of the American Medical Association 

in both the educational, as well as the medical care part. 

And then in working with the manufacturers to get them to manufacture the vaccine and to stop other 

activities and to build up their staffs. 

I think we can all be proud of the industry which we have in this country. 

It's another example of the know-how and the expeditious way in which free enterprise,

through our American industry, can do a good job. 

The vaccine or the virus was given to the industries about the middle of May. 

And within three months, vaccine was being released through our National Institutes of Health 

as being both a safe and an effective vaccine. 

And that seems to me a good example of both teamwork 

and a very expeditious work by the manufacturers.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Another example of this teamwork, and to illustrate that this isn't a one-man 

show is that we have with us this evening,I'd like to present to you, Dr. James A. Crabtree,

who's Associate Dean of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health 

who will discuss how Asian influenza has spread throughout the world.

[Carl Ide:] Well, thank you very much, Dr. Burney, and I'm awfully glad that 

Dr. Crabtree is here with us tonight, too. 

How do you do, Dr. Crabtree? 

We've been discussing the fact that this Asian flu has covered a lot of territory in a short time. 

But I would like to know how did it all get started?

[Dr. James A. Crabtree:] Well, the exact point of origin of the influenza virus

is of course not known. 

But the current epidemic had its beginning, as Dr. Burney indicated, in Hong Kong and Singapore. 

Uhh, this was in early April. 

By mid-April the disease had become indeed epidemic in both of these cities 

and remained so throughout the rest of the month. 

From Hong Kong and Singapore, the disease rapidly, in early May, 

moved to the island of Formosa. 

And here, it's estimated that as many as a half million people

were attacked within a relatively short time. 

From Formosa, also during the month of May, the disease next made its 

appearance in Borneo and Japan. 

And from the major shipping centers, from these several areas, the disease very rapidly scattered 

into widely, such widely separated places as Malaya, Indochina, Indonesia, 

India, Guam, and the Philippines. 

The first cases...also in late May, the disease was reported as far away as Australia.

And on board several ships en route from Australia to San Francisco. 

The first appearance of the disease in the United States was on June 2nd.

This date is important because ahh, it means only a short six weeks from the time the first cases were 

reported in China, they occurred in the United States. 

This indicates the great rapidity with which influenza and influenza-like diseases 

can spread over the world. 

By mid-June, this disease had practically circled the globe, including southeast Asia, 

southwest Asia, the Middle East,

Europe, Australia, and North America. 

Late in June, the disease made its appearance in North Africa, introduced probably by the Muslims 

returning from their pilgrimage, pilgrimages to Mecca. 

So that finally in late July, in early July, the disease made its appearance in Chile, in South America. 

So that in three short months, every continent on the globe had been involved 

in this great pandemic.

[Carl Ide:] Well Dr. Crabtree, you mentioned that it had been reported on ships en route to 

San Francisco, and that several cases were definitely diagnosed, 

among our fleet at Newport, Rhode Island. 

Now wouldn't it have been comparatively simple to have isolated these known cases and prevented 

the spreading of them, and kept them from coming in at all?

[Dr. James A. Crabtree:] Unfortunately, not so simple. 

For the reason that quarantine against influenza is not effective. 

Had it been possible for all of the cases on board these ships to have been isolated, 

it would have had little effect on the actual spread of the disease because undoubtedly there were 

many more people on board these same ships, who by reason of a more recently acquired 

infection, would have shown no symptoms whatever of the disease, and therefore, they could 

not have been readily identified if they were passing through a quarantine station.

[Carl Ide:] I see. Well, Dr. Burney had mentioned that we had approximately 

25,000 known cases in this nation. 

Are they all bunched in one area of the United States? 

Or has the virus spread all over?

[Dr. James A. Crabtree:] The virus has spread all over. 

We have some maps here in the studio that the television audience can see,

which graphically shows how the disease has spread in the United States, 

starting from Newport, Rhode Island and the west coast. 

During the month of June, the disease had spread to Salt Lake City, Utah, to Grinnell, Iowa; 

Cleveland, Ohio, and a few cases along the east coast. 

If we could have the map from showing the spread in July, we see that the disease, starting from these 

original centers, has literally moved in practically every direction throughout the country. 

Then the final map sort of speaks for itself in that it indicates that this virus has become  

very well-seeded in practically every state in the country, certainly in every major region of the country.

[Carl Ide:] Well, I think I've got a pretty good idea of how influenza spreads, Dr. Crabtree. 

But I'm still wondering about the virus itself. Uh, what kind of an animal is it?

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well Carl, I'd like to present to you one of our staff from the National Institutes 

of Health, of the Public Health Service, Dr. Dorland Davis, who is the Associate Director of our

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and ask him to answer this question

and any other scientific questions that you might have.

[Carl Ide:] Well fine. Thank you again, Dr. Burney. Dr. Davis, it's awfully nice to have you take your 

time and come see us tonight.                             

I'm going to ask what is probably going to seem like a silly question. 

But I'd like to know what is this virus like? What is this virus?

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Well, to begin with Carl, influenza is a specific disease 

caused by a specific virus. 

This virus was first isolated back in 1931 by Dr. Shope at the Rockefeller Institute. 

And then subsequently in 1933, it was shown to cause human disease by British scientists.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Now we know that there are three major classifications of virus.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Types A, B, and C. 

And more recently a new type, a fourth type, D, has been described in Japan.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm. Mm-hm. Well this A, B, C, and D, is this fourth type, the D Type,

is that the Asian flu?[Dr. Dorland Davis:] No. No.

[Carl Ide:] You said something about it being related to Type A.

That's what confuses me, the A, B,and C [chuckles].

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] No. The Type A influenza is the influenza

which commonly causes epidemics and pandemics at intervals throughout the recent years.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm. Mm-hm.

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Now the Asian-type of virus is a Type A, and it causes the kind of disease 

which we have had in recent years.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] So, now the, however, the antigenic composition of this Asian type 

is different from that which we have described in the more recent strains. 

So that a person who is immune to the older strains is probably not immune to this new strain. 

And thus the vaccines which have been developed in the recent years by Drs Francis, Salk, and others, 

have no, probably no effect on this invader from Asia.

[Carl Ide:] Well, I guess this is one of the reasons I'd never get into medical school [chuckles]. 

So a new vaccine has to be made each time a new strain comes along. 

That is correct, is it?

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Yes. Yes.[Carl Ide:] I mean that explains why we don't have 

this vaccine in stock, the live vaccine in stock.[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Yes. Mm-hm. That is right.

[Carl Ide:] Well, I think everybody's hearing a good deal about the Asian flu story, 

but will a person know if he has Asian flu? If so, how?

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Well, I think he will know. 

Sometimes his physician finds it a little difficult to diagnosis it because the symptoms may be,

are similar to those caused by other respiratory viruses or actually, respiratory bacteria. 

So that, to be absolutely certain, we must use laboratory methods...

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.[Dr. Dorland Davis:] to make a specific diagnosis. 

Now these are generally of two kinds. One is the actual isolation of the virus. 

Or the second is the demonstration of antibodies which appear in the blood of the person who,

while he has the disease.[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Now this often takes a little time,

and it really doesn't help the patient's position very much. 

But it is important for us to know what kind of disease is prevalent in the community,

and to discover what the type is and follow its course.[Carl Ide:] I see. 

Well naturally, the thing most people are concerned about is the vaccine, first of all,

and particularly how it works in the system. 

Now it seems to me that, being made from real Asian influenza virus, 

wouldn't there be some danger in being vaccinated?

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] No. There's no danger at all. 

The vaccine is completely killed during the process of being prepared.

[Carl Ide:] Mm-hm.

[Dr. Dorland Davis:] Now the vaccine is made by injecting this virus into fertile 

chicken eggs where the virus grows. 

And then by processing the fluids, the vaccine is made by the manufacturers. 

It requires about forty days to manufactureand to test this vaccine.

[Carl Ide:] I see. 

Well Dr. Burney, I can breathe a lot easier knowing a little about how this vaccine is made and that 

there isn't any live virus in it and I'm certainly impressed with the way

your public health team operates.  I mentioned it before,

I want to impress that on you for our viewers as well as myself.

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Thank you.

[Carl Ide:] Up to now, I think that you've given me and the rest of the audience

a complete picture of the Asian flu.

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] Well, I rather doubt, Carl,that we've given you a complete picture,

because we've left out one of the most important groups of our total team

in meeting the challenge of this new Asian influenza,

and that is the American Medical Association, which represents

the physicians throughout our entire country. 

We have worked with them from the beginning of this and have had complete support 

and understanding from that group. 

And I would like to present to you here now, the Secretary General Manager of the American 

Medical Association, Dr. George Lowe.

[Carl Ide:] Thank you again Doctor. Dr. Lowe.

[Dr. George Lowe:] Mr. Ide.

[Carl Ide:] It's a pleasure to have you coming here tonight, too. 

I believe your home port would be Chicago?[Dr. George Lowe:] That's right.

[Carl Ide:] Well, Dr. Lowe, can you explain a little further about this possible flu epidemic?

[Dr. George Lowe:] Well, in planning for a possible flu epidemic, 

the medical profession has three responsibilities. 

Keeping the doctors informed on the progress of the disease, spearheading the mobilization of all 

medical personnel who will be concerned with the caring for the sick, and informing the public 

on what to do once the virus has struck. 

The doctors are being informed about Asian influenza through our weekly journal, 

and through many scientific periodicals published by the various states and county medical societies. 

They are being encouraged to cooperate with the Public Health Service in detecting the 

presence of the virus and its spread from community to community. 

They're being provided with late reports on the technical aspects of the disease and with 

instructions regarding the administration of the vaccine. 

The American Medical Association has asked every local medical society to organize

a committee of those who would be involved in an epidemic so that an agreement can be 

reached in advance on such matters as vaccine priority, the handling of transients,

hospital admission procedures, and so forth. 

And if an epidemic does strike, the medical professions will use every means of communication 

possible--pamphlets, newspapers, radio, and television--to tell the general public what to do. 

It is important we feel, that families know the symptoms of the disease and the basic points

to follow in home care of the flu victim.

[Carl Ide:] Well, what are those symptoms, Dr. Lowe?

[Dr. George Lowe:] Well, the Asian influenza's characterized by a rapid onset high fever,

often as high as 104 degrees, headache, sore throat, aching muscles, and extreme weakness. 

The recognition of symptoms, of course, is important early in an epidemic. 

Once the Asian flu takes hold in a community, why, you'll know what it is 

without checking the symptoms.

[Carl Ide:] Well, when you do get Asian flu, Doctor, how do you care for it at home?

[Dr. George Lowe:] Well ideally, your doctor should be called, and his instructions followed. 

However, in an epidemic situation, he may not be able to give your case his complete attention. 

In that event, these are things to remember:

First, keep away from others. 

Second, go to bed. 

Third, drink a lot of fluids. Water and fruit juices. 

And fourth, if your doctor recommends it, take a fever-reducing agent. 

And fifth, call your doctor if any unusual symptoms develop.

[Carl Ide:] What do you mean by unusual symptoms?

[Dr. George Lowe:] Well, primarily those that would indicate the onset of some lung involvement,

a heavy cough, rapid breathing, blueness of the lips.

[Carl Ide:] I see. Well thank you very much, Dr. Lowe.

And now I'm going to ask Dr. Burney if he would summarize our discussion.

[Dr. Leroy E. Burney:] This fall and winter we may see serious outbreaks of influenza 

in the United States as a consequence of the epidemics which began last April in the Far East. 

Unlike similar instances in the past however, we believe that the size and severity

of the epidemics can in this be minimized in this country. 

Thus, it is the opinion of experts that there is no need for hysteria or panic. 

The influenza is concerned...in the first place, we are prepared for the invasion. 

And in the second place, we now have the means through a new vaccine 

to help prevent this influenza. 

Perhaps the story of infection by influenza virus can best be summarized in this manner: 

There is a pandemic, a worldwide epidemic, of Asian influenza which has 

attacked most of the nations of the world. 

Laboratory tests have shown that it definitely has reached the United States, 

attacking both military and civilian personnel. 

The virus causing this influenza has been isolated and recognized as a member 

of the familiar type of "A" virus. 

An effective and safe vaccine has been developed as a preventative, and currently is in production 

by six pharmaceutical houses in this country. 

At the present time, Asian influenza can bestbe classified as a mild, virus disease 

which attacks many people, but has a very low death rate. 

Experts say that it is probable that an epidemic will occur in this nation

sometime between late fall and early winter. 

For the first time in history, a nation, our own United States, is in the fortunate position of being 

ahead of an impending epidemic, and thus has had the time to organize for an 

all-out offensive against Asian influenza. 

There is always the possibility of an increase in virulence of the infection 

as the epidemic increases. 

However, the new vaccine has been proven effective in control studies conducted by the 

military and should be an excellent weapon to combat the disease if the epidemic progresses. 

When the vaccine is made available for public use, the Public Health Service 

and the American Medical Association hope that the nation as a whole will participate

in a voluntary program of vaccination against the prevalence of this influenza. 

Rest assured that there is no need for alarm, panic, or hysteria. 

If there is a change in the situation, you will be informed immediately through the public education 

channels of your American Medical Association, United States Public Health Service, 

and state and territorial health officers. 

This program, by the way, which is a result of the combined efforts of organized medicine,

private industry, and education is an excellent example of the type of public information 

and education we are setting up. 

In closing, I would like to urge you to make use of the new vaccine when it becomes available, 

knowing meanwhile that you will cooperate with the medical profession and the public health 

authorities if it becomes necessary to set up priorities for those groups responsible for public 

welfare and safety and who must continue their important services if others of us 

are temporarily incapacitated by Asian influenza.

[Carl Ide:] Well Dr. Burney, I'm sure I speak for all who have been with us during this program 

when I say how much we appreciate all of you gentlemen taking your valuable time to come here, 

so that we might be better informed on Asian flu and what is being done about it. 

Participants on tonight's show have been Dr. Leroy E. Burney, Surgeon General of the 

United States Public Health Service; 

Dr. James A. Crabtree, Associate Dean of the University of Pittsburgh 

Graduate School of Public Health; 

Dr. Dorland J. Davis, Associate Director in Charge of Research of the National Institute of Allergy and 

Infectious Diseases, United States Public Health Services; 

Dr. George F. Lowe, Secretary and General Manager of the American Medical Association.

"The Silent Invader" was written by Tom Coleman. 

Produced by Roger Wolfe. 

Directed by Jack Simon. 

Script research by Rose Marie Scarpiello and Kay McDonough. 

"The Silent Invader" has brought to you as a public service by the 

by the Westinghouse Broadcasting Company

in cooperation with the American Medical Association,

the Public Health Service of the US Department of Health Education and Welfare,

and the University of Pittsburgh Health Center.