1918 Influenza
The Fatal 1918 Influenza Pandemic
Near the end of World War 1, the 1918 influenza pandemic,
also referred to as the “Spanish Flu” or the “Great
Influenza” began to rear its ugly head. The 1918 influenza
was caused by a particularly fatal strain of H1N1 Influenza
A species of virus. During the eighteen months that the pandemic
lasted, about 100 million people died of the disease.
The soldiers who fought in Europe at the time died as much
from the 1918 influenza pandemic as they did from enemy fire.
The fact that troops were living and moving together in close
proximity helped the disease to spread rapidly and the compromised
immune systems of the soldiers from battle stress increased
their vulnerability. There were very few countries which were
not affected by the 1918 influenza pandemic. In areas of Alaska
and southern Africa, whole villages perished. In the United
States, as many as 675,000 people died.
Almost the whole world was impacted by the 1918 influenza
pandemic. Even in areas where the mortality rate was lower,
illness contributed to the complete change of the life. Shops
were closed due to the fact that shopkeepers were too sick
or afraid of the disease.
Due to the needs of the war and the 1918 influenza, there
was a terrific shortage of health care workers to attend to
patients. Volunteers were called in to assist in hospitals
and clinics. The Red Cross requested that local businesses
offer a day off to employees who gave time to help in the
clinics at night. Emergency hospitals had to be set up to
accommodate the huge needs medical treatment. Even burying
those who died became a hard task due to the shortage of grave
diggers. Communities had to resort to mass graves that were
dug by steam shovels, and most of the dead that was buried
without coffins.
The 1918 influenza seemed to strike quickly and with a terrible
vengeance. Doctors had reports of patients who became ill
in the morning and dead by nightfall. A victim would come
in for medical assistance with the appearance of normal flu
like symptoms which then quickly evolve into pneumonia more
severe than many doctors had ever seen.
Some deaths happened due to malnourishment and untreated
infections in overtaxed communities. The 1918 influenza pandemic
continued its reign of death and destruction for eighteen
months before finally becoming contained by medical professionals
and scientists. Until now, it remains one of the deadliest
pandemics to ever strike our globe.
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