Using Church records, he identified burial records in Alaskan villages and got permission in l95l to exhume bodies. Fast forward the story to l997. He came upon the body of an obese woman who was particularly well preserved. He removed her lungs, and they had the virus. Using modern technology and the lab of Dr. Taubenberger, the analysis of the genetic puzzle of this deadly virus began.
Flu is an impressive, informative and sobering read.
It is impressive because it is written by an accomplished journalist whose prose entices the reader to stay with her while she doggedly pursues this mystery. It is informative because it introduces us to real-life characters such as Drs. Hultin and Taubenberger, who had a pure dedication to finding this virus, no matter what it took. Ms. Kolata leaves us with the comforting thought that if a similar flu did emerge again, we now have antibiotics that can kill the pneumonia-causing bacteria that overwhelmed the l9l8 victims and new drugs to lessen the effect of influenza infections. We have the option of making vaccines.