The Worldwide Influenza Epidemic in the US

In two years between 1918 and 1919, A pandemic of influenza swept mercilessly over the planet, killing millions which stood in its path. Miraculously, the exact origin of the pandemic is unclear. What is exceedingly clear, however, is that often the actions of man aided in the spread of the virus, whether due to inadvertent endangerment, close quarters, religious principles, or failure to recognize the true threat that influenza posed.

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.

The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 impacted places throughout the world both negatively and positively. Often the reason for the major spread of pestilence was due to transportation of goods and people. This pandemic infected people worldwide, killing millions. Overall people responded to the pandemic in different ways through commitment to the task, consulting religion, avoiding contact with others, and the effort to raise public health awareness.

The United states faced one of the deadliest epidemics in US history from 1918-1919, killing nearly 675,000 americans. When it first started, it killed nearly half the US soldiers who fought in the war. By August of 1918, Philadelphia and Boston were already infected by influenza. Then by October 1919, influenza had killed nearly 200,000 americans.

This sort of environment was the perfect place for the Spanish influenza to begin its deadly streak. On March 11, the first cases of the Spanish flu showed up. The doctors did not worry; they believed it was just the flu. However, case after case of influenza came in, and by the week’s end, 522 people were sick. In the end, 48 soldiers died of influenza, and all their deaths were listed as pneumonia because of their frightening symptoms: labored breathing, violent coughs and nosebleeds, high fever, fluid filling the lungs, etc. However, quite suddenly, the influenza disappeared from Fort Riley (Iezzoni 23-24) and followed the path forged by the soldiers rushing to World War 1. It eventually spread around the world (Billings 2).

The notorious pandemic weve been talking about occurred during spring of 1918 and wasn't noticed very much . The sick, who experienced such typical flu symptoms as chills, fever and fatigue, usually recovered after several days, Plus number of reported deaths was low for a typical flue season. However, a second, highly contagious strain of influenza appeared in the fall of that same year, and Victims died within hours or days of their symptoms appearing, sometimes, their skin would turn blue and their lungs filling with a fluid that caused them to suffocate. In just one year, 1918, the average life expectancy in America plummeted by around 12 years, that’s almost 10%, a figure that intimidates many.it is unknown exactly where this mysterious

In the ten months between September 1918 and June 1919, 675,000 Americans died of influenza and pneumonia. When compared to the number of Americans killed in combat in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam combined- 423,000- it becomes apparent that the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 was far more deadly than the war which it accompanied. (Crosby, 206-207) The United States and the rest of the world had been exposed to such epidemics in the past, but never at such a severe cost in human life.

The first influenza pandemic was recorded as early as 1580. The orthomyxoviridae however, which is the etiological cause of influenza, was discovered by the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom in 1933. Prior to that Haemophilus bacterium was thought to cause the flu. Influenza is an acute respiratory illness, which is caused by influenza A or B (and rarely C). It occurs every year, mostly during the winter season. The flu season in the United States can begin as early as October 4 and end as late as May. In 1938, Jonas Salk and Thomas Francis developed the first vaccine against flu. Currently it is recommended that all individuals 6 months and older should get vaccinated, unless there is a contraindication. Once an individual is

Scary movies are great because they push boundaries of the believable while sitting on the threshold of our most deep set fears. Where movies such as The Exorcist or The Blair Witch Project have shock value, they also lack depth. Where are the elements that bring these stories their credibility/believability? Some of the best horror movies of all time were science fiction stories that left the audience feeling this could actually happen in their daily lives. Who honestly believes that a ghost is going to come haunt you and your family? What about a widespread disease that is killing off everyone you know, in weeks, that is spread through touch? Schools shut down, the government tries to take over while rebellion among

The majority of people who catch influenza will only experience mild illness, and not require any antiviral drugs. However, there are a few people who will be at a greater risk of contracting the virus and to have problems related, which can result in death. The people who are more susceptible to influenza are adults over 65, infants under the age of 5, people in long-term care facilities (e.g. nursing homes), pregnant women, people who have medical conditions, people on long-term medication, people who are extremely obese. The individuals listed are more vulnerable to complications as a consequence of a compromised immune system and other factors. Long term care facility residents make an increased amount of contact with communal objects,

In my Duke Tip camp, I learned what a virus is, how it looks, how it spreads, and how we prevent it. Mainly, I learned about a specific virus: the influenza virus, also called the flu. For example, the Spanish flu in 1918 was an H1N1 virus, just like the swine flu in 2009. The students in my class understood that airports and planes are one of the main causes of a pandemic. Pandemics occur when viruses destroy humans worldwide. Highly populated viruses in countries, states, regions, and cities are classified as epidemics. Most epidemics form into pandemics. You can stop airborne viruses by sneezing into your elbow and then immediately washing it. With this knowledge we, as students were given, I hope to shape my future.The Influenza virus,

Influenza is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Every year, it is estimated that between 3 and 5 million cases of severe influenza illness occur and that between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths are associated with influenza infection [1]. Pregnant women, children aged <5 years, elderly people, and individuals suffering from chronic diseases are particularly at risk of severe influenza infections and complications

Have you ever been in a pandemic? I think the world would end as a pandemic. A pandemic is a very dangerous situation for people to live in noone should ever want to get caught up in a pandemic it is very scary and serious because no one knows who got the disease or know one know the symptoms, how long the pandemic is going to last, if you are going to live or die it's one of the worst feelings in the world. A pandemic has a major effect on the on our planet earth.It is a deadly disease that spreads from person to person and sometimes a pandemic can last up to weeks or even months. A pandemic can kill a lot of people and noone will know what the disease is and there is no known

In 1918-1919, the worst flu in recorded history occurred, killing an estimated 50 million people worldwide. The U.S. death toll was 675,000 - five times the number of U.S. soldiers killed in World War I. Crazy! This flu was unlike any other, and in infected unlike any other. Not to mention, the progression of this illness was extremely quick. One minute you’re fine and the next you’re suffering from a high-grade fever and lying on your death bed.

As the Great War (WW1) was coming to an end there was a break out of a deadly virus. Influenza was the major cause of death in the 1900 killing a fifth of the world’s population in just one year. Glasgow was the first British city to be affected in May 1918, the next few months it spread all around Britain killing 228,000 people. Influenza did not affect the elderly or those who were sick it was mainly affecting those who were between the ages of 20 and 40 who had good immune systems were the ones who were becoming vulnerable. For example nowadays people are encouraged to get vaccines for flu known as ‘flu jab’ which is available every year for everyone on the NHS to protect adults and children. However people in the 1918 who were mainly affected were those between the ages of 20 and 40 unlike now its elderly over 65 years, young children, adults and those people with poor immune systems. The flu jab is not a 100% guarantee that