Department of Medical Microbiology, Retroscreen Virology Ltd, St Bartholomew's and The London Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, 327 Mile End Road, London EC1 4NS, UK.
This discussion piece examines the likely epicentre of the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. Contrary to previous studies that have proposed a Chinese origin, there is documentation that suggests that, in this instance, the virus spread eastwards to China from Europe. Although more recent oubreaks of influenza have undoubtedly had an Oriental origin, the evidence indicates that future outbreaks could conceivably arise anywhere in the world.