Influenza Epidemic Essay

The book “The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, written by John M. Barry, covers the progression of the Spanish influenza, especially in the United States. Barry focuses not only on the influenza itself, though, but also on the social influences that allowed the virus to flourish. The book covers how medical practices in the United States had risen up just in time to combat the virus, but, due to societal issues and the war, the doctors struggled in areas where they should have been successful.

The first wave of the 1918 pandemic appeared in San Sebastián, Spain. Within two months, 8 million of Spain’s residents were ill, and the disease had spread on a global scale. Soon it became known as the Spanish flu, because it received the most press there. The other nations had their media tied up with wartime censorship; Spain, a noncombatant, had no such measures in place (Kolata, Flu 9-10). The first wave of the 1918 pandemic appeared in America without much comment. The media was more interested in attention-grabbing news about topics like the war than the rather unremarkable flu. Most people were afflicted with symptoms for a few days before recovering and moving on. The only aspect of the flu that was remarkable was the condition of the lungs from the victims who had died from the flu and pneumonia (Crosby 17-21).

The influenza of 1918 or the Spanish flu, was the most epidemic in America. Everything was closed down. No one was allowed to gather, children were not allowed to play, there could be no public gatherings, and no one could meet in taverns. It’s amazing that one single virus could destroy a nation. This disease killed more people than any war, it’s amazing how no one knew the cure and where it came from, but I truly believe that the Lord had brought this disease to America to wake up America about his soon return. It is not ironic how no one knows the cure and how this disease came. This sickness could have also been a reminder to the world of who is running the show. America thought that it was superior because of their new technological advantages

The plague was a catastrophic time in history, and happened more than once. It took millions and millions of people’s lives. It destroyed cities and countries, and many people suffered from it.

In the early 1900’s medicine was making some steps closer into some great improvements for health and better understanding of the human body. Doctors with sufficient knowledge of the human body and cures for diseases and viruses were scarce. People were much more concerned with government and politics, than health and medicine, until one of the greatest and most grotesque lethal pandemics that’s struck the earth in human history. This pandemic the “Spanish Flu” spread so rapidly and had an extremely high mortality rate. This was caused by the close contact of humans and poor cleanliness and sanitation, and the host (virus) and the body taking harsh action

The book The Great Influenza by John Barry takes us back to arguably one of the greatest medical disasters in human history, the book focuses on the influenza pandemic which took place in the year 1918. The world was at war in the First World War and with everyone preoccupied with happenings in Europe and winning the war, the influenza pandemic struck when the human race was least ready and most distracted by happenings all over the world. In total the influenza pandemic killed over a hundred million people on a global scale, clearly more than most of the deadliest diseases in modern times. John Barry leaves little to imagination in his book as he gives a vivid description of the influenza pandemic of 1918 and exactly how this pandemic affected the human race. The book clearly outlines the human activities that more or less handed the human race to the influenza on a silver platter. “There was a war on, a war we had to win” (Barry, p.337). An element of focus in the book is the political happenings back at the time not only in the United States of America but also all over the world and how politicians playing politics set the way for perhaps the greatest pandemic in human history to massacre millions of people. The book also takes an evaluator look at the available medical installations and technological proficiencies and how the influenza pandemic has affected medicine all over the world.

Then, in the fall of 1918, influenza struck. People everywhere fell victim to the Spanish flu, dying of uncontrollable hemorrhaging that filled the lungs and caused the patients to drown (Crane 1). Estimates say that approximately 20 to 40 percent of the world’s population became ill, and the worldwide death toll was around 20 to 40 million (“NVPO” 2). Around 675,000 people died in America alone (Crane 5). The Spanish flu struck quickly; you could feel well in the morning, get sick by noon, and be dead by nightfall (“NVPO” 2). The doctors were unable to cure the Spanish flu, so the people resorted to superstitious practices, such as wearing a

In 1918, a deadly disease called the Spanish Flu struck Europe, along with the rest of the world. The influenza pandemic had devastating effects, negatively impacting both citizens and soldiers. It quickly spread over 5,000 miles, killing many. Because it was so unexpected, more than 20 million people who became infected with this disease suddenly died. The abruptness of this virus meant that no cure or treatment could be developed quick enough to combat it.

The Great Plague was a pandemic that killed many people, and for the people from the olden times the plague equaled painful death; it was torture. As a result, many people categorize ‘the Great Plague’ as a catastrophe that had caused huge damage in Europe, but without this epidemic, we many not have had substantial changes that lead us to the modern day we have now.

Many historians call the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 the deadliest disease outbreak of all time. As many as 100 million people were killed as a direct result of this disease (Taubenberger 1). The Great Pandemic affected everyone, the prosperous and the poor, developed and underdeveloped nations. Entire villages in Alaska were wiped out because of the viral disease (Public Health Service). The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 was caused by World War One, a high volume of immigration, and poor sanitary conditions.

The plague was a disease that hit in 1348. It took countless of lives. This plague effects a lot of the people’s behaviors and how they were thinking about everything. It was the scariest thing that had happen. Countless of lives dead during this time because this disease spread so quickly. As this disease hit the people within three days after it hit a curtain area most of the population died. Depends on your body some could live longer than others, but most often it will hit them and they will die fast. In order, not to get sick, they had to move outside of the city limits, eat small amounts of food and don’t let anybody come in or leave. Another cure for this sickness was to not let it get to you and by laughing. The reverse from the law, both God and men fell apart because the

Illnesses have long haunted the human race. As long as these illnesses have existed, humans have developed ways to cure themselves, beginning with simple herbs and proceeding as far as vaccines and complex medicines. One cure that long eluded scientists was that of the influenza virus. Now, the influenza vaccine, or flu shot, saves thousands of lives a year and helps prevent serious complications resulting from influenza infection.

A lot of critical factors drive an influenza pandemic stockpiling. The costs for having influenza pandemic stockpile of drugs is relatively lesser when equated with the amount of chaos and disaster it will be created to humankind worldwide.

Industrialization and urbanization make people live and work in indoors, and some studies found that people in industrialized countries spend around 90% of their lifetime in the inside of the building [1, 2]. Therefore, it is important to recognize that, indoor air quality is an important determinant of public health [3]. In indoor air, the microbial fraction of aerosols present is of fundamental environmental and public health importance. This fraction is commonly termed “bioaerosols” and is a mixture of viable and nonviable microorganisms. The definition of bioaerosol includes airborne fungi, bacteria and viruses. Influenza viruses are one of bioaerosol in indoor environment and are among the most common causes of human respiratory infections. Influenza viruses are among the most significant because they cause high morbidity and mortality [4]. Influenza viruses are spreaded with different ways such as; direct contact, indirect contact, large respiratory droplets and aerosols that are left behind by the evaporation of larger droplets [5]. Also, Virus aerosols may be released into air when infected

As this dangerous disease is running rapidly through Europe, it leaves us to ask ‘how did this happen?’ Many people believe that this is God’s wrath on his people for all the sins we have committed. Therefore, some people are trying to receive God’s forgiveness by praying and spending time in church. On the other hand, most people have left the religion. They see no reason to spend their last day worshiping to a God that brought this pain on his people.