Influenza+Pandemic+of+1918-19

Rachel Bodnar, 6th period

The influenza pandemic, also known as the Spanish Flu, lasted a year, but killed more people than World War one did. However, it effected people in the trenches too. It infected 28% of Americans and killed 675,000 of them which is ten times more people than were killed in World War one. The pandemic was so severe that the life expencanticy was shortned by 10 years in the U.S. The death rate for people 15 to 34 years old was 20 times higher. The disease started out with common cold symptoms but was an extremely deadly disease. It could kill people in just a few hours to a couple days. All of them dying because blood caught in their airways would suffocate them.

Influenza, however, did effect the rest of the world. It spread from travlers on ships (like the one below) or trading industries. The war itself also helped to spread influenza, through military ships (below) or trains (below ship).

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The outbreak was caused by the use of new gas during the time called mustard gas. It was used in the war to weaken armies. It created terrible, extremely painful burns (below) The disease was cureable but the cur happned slowly while people were quartnied and sent to hospitals (below) or sometimes hospital camps.