Spanish Flu Pandemic In 1918

The influenza or flu pandemic of 1918 to 1919, the deadliest in modern history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide–about one-third of the planet’s population at the time–and estimates place the number of victims anywhere from 25 to 100 million. More than 25 percent of the U.S. population became sick, and some 675,000 Americans died during the pandemic. The 1918 flu was first observed in Europe, the U.S. and parts of Asia before swiftly spreading around the world. Surprisingly, many flu victims were young, otherwise healthy adults. At the time, there were no effective drugs or vaccines to treat this killer flu strain or prevent its spread. In the U.S., citizens were ordered to wear masks, and schools, theaters and other public

In late August 1918, the second wave of the Spanish flu struck three port cities across the world at nearly the same time. Boston in the state of Massachusetts, Brest, a city in France and Freetown, Sierra Leone were all stricken at the same time and the impact was felt swiftly. Hospitals quickly became overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of patients. When hospitals filled up, tent hospitals were erected on lawns. Nurses and doctors were already in short supply because so many of them had gone to Europe to help with the war effort. In desperate need, hospitals asked for volunteers. Even knowing they were risking their own lives by helping these contagious victims, many people, especially women, signed up anyway to help as best they

Within hours of feeling the first symptoms of extreme fatigue, fever, and headache, victims would start turning blue. Sometimes the blue color became so pronounced that it was difficult to determine a patient's original skin color. Patients would cough with such force that some even tore their abdominal muscles. Foamy blood came their mouths and noses. A few bled from their ears, and vomiting and losing control of their bladders and bowels was not uncommon. The Spanish flu struck so suddenly and severely that many of its victims died within hours of coming down with their first symptom, though most deaths happened within the first day or two. People were terrified about getting the flu. Some cities ordered everyone to wear masks. Spitting and coughing in public was prohibited. Schools and theaters were closed. People also tried their own homemade prevention remedies, such as eating raw onions, keeping a potato in their pocket, or wearing a bag of camphor around their neck. Many an entrepreneur tried their hand at selling remedies that they assured the public at large would either keep them from becoming ill or cure them if they already were. Bodies piled up as the massive deaths of the epidemic ensued. Besides the lack of health care workers and medical supplies, there was a shortage of coffins, morticians and gravediggers. The conditions in 1918 were not so far removed from the Black Death in the era of the