1918 Flu and COVID-19 Genetic Origins

September 4, 2021 4:24 PM

Several months ago (I think), I heard a podcast about the 1918 flu and COVID-19. IIRC there is a unique genetic origin for each, and the one from 1918 is the basis of all others since then except for COVID-19. I'd like to listen to this podcast again but I can't figure out which one it is. Can anyone tell me which podcast this was?

My common listens that might apply are Radiolab, Reply All, This American Life, and You're Wrong About. Occasionally I'll pick up one or two episodes from other explainy-type podcasts.

posted by happy_cat to Computers & Internet (2 answers total)

This is from last year, but the end of Radiolab's Dispatches from 1918 touches on how the 1918 flu is an ancestor for the current influenza viruses in circulation today.

Also from last year, the last few minutes of Science Diction's Spanish Flu episode briefly explores the Spanish Flu/H1N1 after the 1918 pandemic.
posted by verity kindle at 6:36 PM on September 4, 2021

That sounds like an oddly oversimplified and sensationalized account of viruses. I hope you take it with a grain of salt.

Longer version:

There are many families of viruses, and they can be found in humans, animals, insects, bacteria, plants, and fungi.

Of the viruses that affect humans, you may have heard of rabies, ebolavirus, and smallpox.

Of the viruses that cause human respiratory symptoms, some are SARS, MERS, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, as well as influenza and coronavirus.

Viruses are constantly mutating.  For a virus to cause a pandemic, it needs to hit the sweet spot where it spreads easily and quickly and also causes noticeable illness. Any of the other viruses floating around can hit the jackpot next.
posted by dum spiro spero at 11:52 PM on September 4, 2021 [4 favorites]