Influenza Epidemic of 1918 Report

Influenza Epidemic of 1918 Report

The topic that I chose to research is known as the Flu Epidemic of 1918. Now we are all aware of what the common flu consists of, maybe a runny nose, or watery eyes, and sometimes even vomiting or a cough. There is a wide range of bacteria types that can emit the influenza virus. Just so we are clear, Bacteria are one-celled organisms that live on their own. They can multiply and reproduce by subdivision.

The influenza epidemic occurred from March 1918, to June 1920. Though that seems like an extremely long time, you must remember that there was a lot of disease and what we know about medication and antibiotics now, was not even existent back then. This contagious infection spread quickly, and without warning it hit the Arctic and remote pacific islands. It is estimated that 50-100 million people died in total, but that was over a span of 2-3 years.

The first known influenza infection was found and recorded in the United States, in Fort Riley, Kansas (March 4, 1918). The second known and documented case was located in Queens, New York (March 11, 1918). The third documented case was found in Brest, France (August, 1918), the fourth case was documented in the United States, Boston Massachusetts.

The first few cases were registered in the continental United States and the rest of Europe way before it reached Spain. Spain was known as a neutral country to the United States during World War One. Spain was hit with the epidemic of Influenza out of nowhere, for they didn't have news regarding the disease or its consequences. The current King of Spain, Alfonso XIII became severely ill and is now known as the most exploited patient, known to of had the influenza virus, when it came to news coverage, hence the widest most reliable news coverage came from Spain. This gave the false impression that Spain was the most affected by the Influenza Pandemic of 1918. This whole ordeal was so widely known, and so widely heard of, that it received it own nickname, "Spanish Flu".

So in conclusion, the flu Epidemic of 1918 was widely spread in a short period of time, many people died of this sickness, due to the fact that we could not supply them with the proper medication, because we simply didn't have the right materials or knowledge to do so back then.