In the fall of 1918, there developed an strain of influenza that turned into the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. More people died of influenza in a single year in the early twentieth-century than in four years of the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) in 1347-1351. The pandemic of 1918-1919 caused more deaths than the Great War (World War I) at somewhere between 20-40 million people worldwide. The pandemic was a global disaster known as "Spanish Flu" or "La Grippe" and was so devastating that the average life span in the U.S. was decreased by 10 years. The mortality rate was at a staggering 2.5%; other strains of influenza have a mortality rate of only about 0.1%.
This particular virus strain hit hard ages 15 to 35, with people becoming sick while simply going about their daily activities. The virus was so contagious and spread through human carriers, along trade routes, and through shipping lines. The war also was said to have enabled the influenza to spread much more quickly.
The "Spanish Flu", or so the pandemic was called, circled the globe with most of humanity feeling its effects. The origins of this strain of influenza is still unknown but is thought to have had origins in China in a rare genetic shift of the virus. In the U.S., the flu first appeared in the Boston area and was introduced there through the busy sea port which was handling hundreds of shipments of machinery and supplies for the war effort. By the time the flu had its grip on the world, 1/4 of the United States was affected and 1/5 of the world's population was either ill or dead. The pandemic became so frightening that the public health department made it mandatory that everyone wear guaze masks when out in public (although little did they know that the tiny microbes would pass right through the holes in the guaze!). Stores could not have sales for fear of too many people coming into close contact with each other and spreading the virus even more, and even funerals were limited to 15 minute services. (Pine boxes were seen lining the sidewalks of Boston!)
As quickly as the influenza took control of the world's population, it just as quickly began to weaken and die out. Fewer and Fewer people became sick, and therefore, deaths became much less frequent. Could this pandemic happen again... some experts wonder if this Bird Flu might be the next global pandemic. Let's hope that our public health officials in this country as well as in other countries worldwide will be able to monitor and control this particular new strain of influenza...the alternative could be a repeat of the paralyzing death that gripped the world in 1918.
sylvia hamilton