The Spanish Flu pandemic, the deadliest in history, infected a record 500 million people worldwide, about one-third of the world's population. The disease killed an estimated twenty million to sixty million people including 675,000 Americans. At the time, there was no effective vaccine and bodies were piled high in makeshift morgues. Schools were shut down and masks were mandatory when going out.
Spanish Flu victims often died within hours of experiencing symptoms, often with their skin turning blue and lungs filling with fluid, causing them to suffocate. This was more feared than many other diseases because of the similarity to regular flu symptoms.
Fun Facts:
- In 1918, the life expectancy in America dropped a dozen years.
- The Spanish Flu did not actually begin in Spain. It is believed to have originated in East Asia, Europe, and even Kansas.
- The Spanish Flu did not affect the outcome of World War I. Both forces were relatively equally affected by the illness.
The strain of the Spanish Flu
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be respectful. Think to yourself, "Would I say this to a child?"