Fearing a repeat of the 1918 worldwide flu epidemic that killed more people than military action during World War I, Americans anxiously braced themselves for an onslaught of the Asian flu in 1957. This mutant, vaccine resistant form of Type-A influenza, the most threatening of the flu viruses, began appearing in northern China early in the year and threatened to be the deadliest epidemic of the century. It was estimated that a wave of Asian flu could spread from coast to coast in a month and that as many as twenty-six million Americans might fall ill as a result.

Preparations.

The World Health Organization identified the epidemic in Asia early in the year and alerted national health agencies to prepare for the worst. Before the virus made its way to America, the word had been spread to the public about its virulent potential, and medical researchers...