The 1918 Influenza Pandemic

[Sharon]

True or False
The 1918 flu pandemic killed more people than who died in WWI?

True

World War I claimed an estimated 16 million lives. The influenza epidemic that swept the world in 1918 killed an estimated 50 million people. One fifth of the world's population was attacked by this deadly virus. Within months, it had killed more people than any other illness in recorded history.

The plague emerged in two phases. In late spring of 1918, the first phase, known as the "three-day fever," appeared without warning. Few deaths were reported. Victims recovered after a few days. When the disease surfaced again that fall, it was far more severe. Scientists, doctors, and health officials could not identify this disease which was striking so fast and so viciously, eluding treatment and defying control. Some victims died within hours of their first symptoms. Others succumbed after a few days; their lungs filled with fluid and they suffocated to death.

The plague did not discriminate. It was rampant in urban and rural areas, from the densely populated East coast to the remotest parts of Alaska. Young adults, usually unaffected by these types of infectious diseases, were among the hardest hit groups along with the elderly and young children.

Unknown victim of the 1918 flu pandemic that killed millions around the world


Soldiers from Fort Riley, Kansas, ill with Spanish influenza at a hospital ward at Camp Funston


Albertan farmers wore masks to protect themselves from the flu


Policemen wearing masks provided by the American Red Cross in Seattle, 1918


A street car conductor in Seattle in 1918 refusing to allow a passenger aboard who is not wearing a mask


Red Cross workers remove a flu victim in St. Louis, Missouri


Influenza ward at Walter Reed Hospital, Spain


Spanish flu victims being buried. North River, Labrador, Canada


Tokyo, Japan


Demonstration at the Red Cross Emergency Ambulance Station in Washington, D.C., during the influenza pandemic of 1918


Cavalry memorial on the hill Lueg, memory of the Bernese cavalrymen victims of the 1918 flu pandemic; Emmental, Bern, Switzerland

More: http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/

[bittersweet808]

greAt post sharron

[Spiffyfable]

Damn.. and it's just a matter of time before that happens again

[Robert440]

FYI the young were hit the hardest cause the immune system was hijacked by the virus...So i plan on a nice cold shower or 3 if i get infected....

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Spiffyfable

Damn.. and it's just a matter of time before that happens again

That's what scares me esp after hearing on the news that China have created a new 'killer strain'

[trunkspv]

[Badmouth Betty]

Originally Posted by Spiffyfable

Damn.. and it's just a matter of time before that happens again

Exactly what I thought

[lagunasun]

bet the mask makers made a bundle (if they made it through it).

[SwanSong]

Originally Posted by Spiffyfable

Damn.. and it's just a matter of time before that happens again

unfortunately, the next time something like this happens, it'll probably be because terrorists release a deadly virus
Great post!

[murofhsirgo]

The 5th one from last you can see that the “plenty of fresh air” belief was probably part of the recovery.. unless they were out of indoor space
Super post and yet once again I am late to the party