Spanish Flu

The Spanish Flu:

Spanish Flu

Where Did The Flu Originate From?

The Spanish flu is believed to have originated in birds and have spread to humans. It’s believed to have transferred either directly or through an intermediate host. As soon as the flu began to spread amongst people, it rapidly turned into a global epidemic that affected millions of people worldwide. Since Spain was among the first to send out newspapers regarding the flu. They immediately blamed the Spanish, and it inaccurately became known as the Spanish flu. However, the first case was reported in Fort Riley, Kansas in the US.​​​​​​​​

A Nov. 6, 1918, headline in the Tucson Citizen describes the Spanish flu, which killed at least 50 million people worldwide. Tucson Citizen 1918

“As the early outbreak at Fort Riley suggested, the primary breeding ground for the influenza consisted of army camps that were springing up all over America in the early days of 1918. America had entered World War I the previous October, and many young men were anxious to do their part and join the fight.  As a result, the camps soon became overcrowded with recruits and service veterans brought in from all over the country to train them.”
― Charles River Editors

How Did It Spread?

The Spanish flu spread quickly during World War I, due to factors such as crowded military camps, troop movements, and the transfer of supplies and personnel. The tight quarters and unhygienic surroundings of military camps and trenches made it the perfect environment for the virus to spread swiftly among soldiers. The mobility of troops and the transit of sick people between nations and regions contributed to the virus' global spread.​​​​​​

The newspaper discusses the amount of military troops that had boarded ships, aircraft, etc, despite the ongoing pandemic. It provided specific numbers of troops that had embarked.

"Camp Devens is near Boston, and has about 50,000 men, or did have before this epidemic broke loose. It also has the base hospital for the Division of the Northeast. This epidemic started about four weeks ago, and has developed so rapidly that the camp is demoralized and all ordinary work is held up till it has passed. All assemblages of soldiers taboo."

- A doctor stationed at Camp Devens, a military base just west of Boston, writes to a friend and fellow physician, of the conditions to be found there as influenza was making its presence felt.

Symptoms: 

The symptoms of the Spanish flu included: 

- Headache                        - Sore throat

        - Fever                                  - Chills          

           - Body ache                        - Runny nose         

               - Cough                           - Loss of appetite   

      - Fatigue                           - Joint pain  

"These men start with what appears to be an attack of la grippe or influenza, and when brought to the hospital they very rapidly develop the most viscous type of pneumonia that has ever been seen. Two hours after admission they have the mahogany spots over the cheek bones, and a few hours later you can begin to see the cyanosis extending from their ears and spreading all over the face, until it is hard to distinguish the coloured men from the white. It is only a matter of a few hours then until death comes, and it is simply a struggle for air until they suffocate. It is horrible."

​​​​​​​- A doctor stationed at Camp Devens, a military base just west of Boston, writes to a friend and fellow physician, of the conditions to be found there as influenza was making its presence felt.

Spanish Flu medical advice poster, USA, 1918. The text of this poster explains how influenza is spread, and gives some preventative advice. The 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, which occurred in several waves between 1918 and 1920, infected one fifth of the world population and killed between 20 and 50 million, more than had been killed in the First World War. The second wave of the pandemic, from August 1918, was much deadlier than the first, with high mortality rates among young healthy adults.

Who It Affected: 

The Influenza affected everyone, all genders and ages. It killed nearly 40-50 million people. The Spanish flu was particularly harmful to infants under age of 5 and people over the age of 65. Additionally, the flu especially affected healthcare workers since they were so close in proximity to the ones infected that it increased their chances of getting infected themselves. Furthermore, there were a large quantity of jobs lost and businesses struggling to stay afloat because of the amount of deaths and illness.

 "A little girl next door was buried today and theres a lady up the street a ways that is pretty sick and my little sister is just getting over it, so I guess it is pretty near my turn for every one in our family has had it but me." - Autograph letter signed Harold, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, to Dearest Frances (Miss Frances Murray), Bloomington, Illinois. 1919 March 5.

“The epidemics now occurring,” they observed, “appear with electric suddenness, and, acting like powerful, uncontrolled currents, produce violent and eccentric effects. The disease never spreads slowly and insidiously. Where it occurs, its presence is startling.”

-The Science Journal

Number of Deaths Due to Pandemic (1918-1919) - CDC

Illness attack rate (red line) and overall mortality rate (black line) for influenza by age groups of selected US populations, during the 1918 influenza pandemic period.

As Adults fell to influenza, children were called upon to help with deliveries and other chores.

Photo: “Death Rates per 1000 Living at Each Age Group – From Influenza and Pneumonia“ November 1918. Collection of New York Municipal Archives

Managment & Treatments:

In response to the virus, the government implemented policies including social separation, isolation, and quarantines to stop the spread of the virus. Campaigns for public health care were started to inform people about good hygiene habits. Some regions went as far as to make masks mandatory. Due to the unadvanced technology and knowledge, there was unfortunately no effective medication against the flu or antibiotics to help treat the infection.

"By the end of the pandemic, treatment by transfusion of blood from a survivor was known to be effective. But transfusion methods were rudimentary, performed directly from donor to patient, and blood typing and matching was in its infancy." - The National WWII Museum of New Orleans 

Due to the necessities of the new regulations implemented, the public needed to wear masks and stay a safe distance from one another to stop the rapid growth of the disease. 

"You Must Wash Properly" - The Pittsburg Press, November 21, 1918