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History of Spanish Flu

The Spanish Flu was an fatal influenza epidemic and it was one of the most deadliest pandemic

and this flu was caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus.   Influenza was spreading through the air

in the form of droplets, when people cough, talk, or sneeze. World War 1 played a huge role in

this Because of World War I, thousands of ships were carrying people between Europe and the

rest of the world and that’s how it starts spreading and within 4 months, the virus had spread

around the globe and it had killed millions of people. The Spanish flu first emerged during the

year 1918. The disease first appeared in Fort Riley Kansas on March 11, 1918 when an Army

private was sent to the camp hospital with symptoms of a fever, sore throat, and headache. By

noon that day the hospital had treated over 100 sick soldiers with similar symptoms and 500

more by the end of that week. It was started from March 1918 and it lasted till April 1920. The

first wave of the 1918 pandemic happened in the spring and it was generally mild. The

symptoms of the flu include chills, fever, and fatigue. The Spanish flu was contagious as it can

be transmitted from one person to another person.

The victims of the Spanish flu were started dying within hours and days of developing the

symptoms of the virus and, their skin turned blue and their lungs were filling with fluid and that

became the reason of suffocation for them. It had infected about 500 million people in the world.

The Spanish flu had taken live of 20 million to 50 million people. The countries where the

Spanish flu was first detected are Europe, the United States and parts of Asia and latter on it

started spreading in other parts of the world. No effective drugs or vaccines were there to cure

the Spanish flu. Inhabitants were required to wear masks and the places like schools, theaters and

businesses were closed. During the months of April and May in the year 1918, the virus was

spreading like wildfire through England, France, Spain, and Italy. An approximate three-quarters
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of the French military was infected in the spring of 1918. the first wave of the virus was not that

much deadly, with symptoms like high fever and malaise usually lasting only three days. From

September through November of 1918, the death rate from the Spanish flu started rising. In the

United States alone, 195,000 Americans died from the Spanish flu in  the month of October. The

second wave of Spanish flu was started in the month of December 1918 and It was very deadly.

The third wave began in Australia in January 1919. The mortality rate of the third wave was high

similarly to the second wave and there were more deaths of people in the third wave as compared

to the second wave.

Comparison of COVID-19 & Spanish Flu

Similarities between COVID-19 and Spanish Flu

 Both COVID-19 and Spanish Flu were concerned with the transmission or crossover of a

virus from an animal reservoir to humans, as influenza from aquatic birds and SARS-

Cov2 and coronavirus perhaps originated from bats.

 Another commonality between the Spanish flu and the coronavirus is that both are

considered novel.

 Spanish flu as well as Coronavirus were and are highly infectious, being spread through

the air by coughing or sneezing i.e. by droplet infection or by touching infected surfaces

 The widespread transmission of coronavirus was due to a lack of immunity in the

population and there was no immunity to the Spanish Flu also.

 Spanish influenza and COVID-19 are both infectious respiratory illnesses, and they share

some symptoms like difficulty in breathing, fever, body aches, tiredness, nausea,

coughing and sneezing. So, both could lead to pneumonia and death.
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 Just like the Spanish flu, there is currently no preventive vaccine available for COVID-

19, and Both pandemics were not overcome by existing health facilities. 

 In both the cases Governments introduced travel bans, quarantine rules and social

distancing measures.

Differences between COVID-19 and Spanish Flu

 COVID-19 is contagious to all, but it is most deadly for the elderly and those with

weakened immune systems. On the other hand, Spanish Flu was especially deadly for

healthy young adults aged 20 to 40.

 The incubation period of the Spanish flu was very short that is one or two days, while

that of COVID-19 can extend to a fortnight, due to which it gets undetected.

  COVID-19 is not influenza, it is more like a chronic acute pneumonia. Coronavirus

and Spanish flu are both caused by novel viruses, but different types of viruses with

different methods of action and infectiousness.

 In case of COVID-19 the global communication and sharing of information are also

significantly better than in of case of Spanish flu in1918, because for coronavirus

researchers and governments are sharing data on the pandemic, the virus, and

numerous drugs.

 The best healthcare facilities were not available during the past times when Spanish

flu was originated in the world but now best technology, best healthcare equipment’s

and devices are available during the time of COVID-19.

 In 1918, it was impossible to test people with mild symptoms of Spanish flu.

Moreover, there was less protective equipment for health care workers, and the
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supportive care with respirators that can be provided to people very ill with

coronavirus, these were did not exist during 1918.

 For the economy the effects of the 1918 Spanish flu was related to factory closings

and social disruptions as the world was not much interconnected but on the other

hand, Coronavirus is already having significant impacts on the stock market and other

aspects of the economy.

Key points for discussion

 What were the consequences that the people faced during the time of 1918 when

Spanish Flu began and in today’s situation of Coronavirus?

 What are the lessons learned from the Spanish Flu and Coronavirus to tackle

future situations of dangerous viruses?

 What makes the Coronavirus different from the Spanish Flu?

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References

 https://www.history.com/news/spanish-flu-second-wave-resurgence

 https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/health/spanish-flu-coronavirus-lessons-

learned/index.html

 https://theconversation.com/compare-the-flu-pandemic-of-1918-and-covid-19-with-

caution-the-past-is-not-a-prediction-138895

 https://www.wdtimes.com/news/editors_pick/article_f09cf977-ac40-5754-b439-

8a31c475193c.html