aug 2, 1918 BC - Influenza Pandemics 1918

Description:

Influenza, or more commonly known as the flu, is a very common viral infection that can be fatal and spread quickly with prolonged contact with others who are infected by it, as this is spread through coughing, sneezing or talking. These droplets can be inhaled into someone’s lungs and infect them or also can be transmitted by touching a surface of object with the flu virus on it and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Two main types of influenza viruses include A and B and there are multiple strains within these groups.

There are many myths about the flu such as “the stomach flu and the flu are the same thing” which is false or “the flu is just a bad cold” which is also false, and that the flu shot causes the flu which it depends on the case, but typically is not true either. Even though the flu and the common cold share some similar symptoms, they vary in length and severity. For example, when suffering from the common cold, you rarely have a fever, it’s uncommon to have the chills, it is common to have a sore throat, stuffy nose and sneezing and is uncommon to have a headache. On the other hand for the flu, it is usual to have a fever, common to have the chills, you may sometimes have a sore throat, stuffy nose, and sneezing and it is common to have a headache.

Flu shots are available and are especially important for people who fall under the high risk categories. These people include pregnant women, people over the age of 65, and children under the age of 5, especially under the age of 2. These groups of people are all more susceptible to getting the flu and should take more precaution because of it. In the United States, flu season is considered to be the fall and winter months, primarily from November-March. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting your vaccination according to the CDC.

The most prominent influenza pandemic would be the Spanish Influenza in 1918-1919. This pandemic claimed the lives of 40 million people (while some argue more) as it traveled rapidly city by city. As the summer of 1918 went by, the virus was said to become more deadly. It first appeared in Kansas in the early spring and grew deadlier and faster than ever before. It overwhelmed hospitals and there was no treatment or vaccine for it at the time. It was nicknamed the Spanish Influenza due to its horrendous effects that occurred in Spain. Luckily, it began to slow down in 1919 and lessened even more throughout the 1920s.

A similar story of another pandemic occurred in 1957-1958 called the Asian Influenza. Again, the flu grew rapidly and infected lots and lots of people. Even with 7 million vaccinations, it was recorded that around 2 million people died from the Asian Influenza and there were about 70,000 deaths in the U.S.

Lastly, the most recent influenza pandemic (Influenza A - H1N1) occurred March of 2009, first appearing in Mexico with that quickly spreading to California and Texas and had an origin from pigs. This was alarming and gained national and worldwide recognition due to the death rate of this flu being higher than usual. Luckily, it slowed down and turned out to be less severe than aniticapted.

Symptoms: As mentioned before some common symptoms include a fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue / tiredness and headaches.

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