New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

Michael Bresalier, "Modern Flu: British Medical Science and the Viralisation of Influenza, 1890-1950" (Palgrave MacMillan, 2023)

Dec 27, 2024
In this discussion, Dr. Michael Bresalier, a historian of modern medicine at Swansea University, delves into his book on the history of influenza research in Britain. He traces the evolution of understanding influenza from 1890 to 1950 and the impact of pandemics on public health perceptions. Bresalier highlights how two world wars and significant collaborations reshaped medical science. He discusses the challenges of developing influenza vaccines and draws parallels between past pandemics and current global health issues, emphasizing the importance of historical lessons.
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