Introduction
The Spanish Flu, often known as the influenza epidemic of 1918–1920, was a worldwide pandemic that infected an estimated 500 million people and resulted in at least 50 million deaths. Massive troop deployments and congested circumstances in military camps helped the epidemic spread during the war and global conflict. The causes and progression of the 1918–1920 influenza epidemic, its effects on society, and the measures taken by researchers and medical professionals to contain the pandemic will all be covered in this article. Furthermore, it will contrast and analyze the responses to the 1918 and COVID-19 pandemics and look at the lessons that may be drawn from these historical occurrences.
The Origin and Spread
As the Spanish Flu pandemic hit San Francisco in October 1918, the city’s healthcare system was rapidly overwhelmed. More physicians, nurses, or hospital beds were needed to handle the demand, and hospitals were already at capacity (Kenner, 2018). Public health experts used non-medical strategies to prevent the spread of the virus. They mandated that individuals wear masks in public and ordered the closing of theaters, schools, and other public meeting places (Kenner, 2018). While there were several objections to the mask requirement, these efforts eventually successfully reduced the spread of the virus.
The epidemic reached Boston in late August 1918 and spread quickly among the large military community there. Similar to San Francisco, the city responded by ordering masks and closing schools and theaters (Kenner, 2018). However, the city also put in place a voluntary home quarantine program where those who were ill or had come into touch with someone ill were asked to remain at home. Boston avoided the enormous mortality rates observed in other cities because of this method, which was generally successful.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, handled the outbreak quite differently. On September 28, 1918, the city held a sizable Liberty Loan march that attracted 200,000 people despite health officials’ warnings (Kenner, 2018). The number of influenza cases exploded within a few days, swiftly overrunning hospitals. Public health authorities took a while to act, and by the time they ordered the closing of theaters and schools, it was too late to stop the infection from spreading.
Early 20th-century scientists and medical professionals had few resources to combat the influenza epidemic. They concentrated on non-medical remedies, including social exclusion, seclusion, and quarantine, because no vaccine or effective antiviral medicine was available. The way the current COVID-19 pandemic has been handled compared to the 1918 influenza pandemic has been quite different (Kenner, 2018).
Researchers now know far more about how viruses spread and how to limit their propagation than people did in 1918. Furthermore, a variety of medical treatments are accessible to patients, including vaccinations and antivirals. The response to COVID-19 has nevertheless continued to be controversial and debatable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the influenza pandemic of 1918–1920 was a terrible worldwide epidemic that took millions of lives. Cities and countries responded differently to the pandemic, with some successfully employing non-medical methods to stop the virus’s spread while others found it challenging to manage the epidemic. Although scientists and medical authorities had few resources to combat the epidemic at the time, their attempts to encourage social exclusion and isolation eventually succeeded in many places. Many elements, including developments in medical technology, international collaboration, and political and societal issues, have influenced how the present COVID-19 epidemic has been addressed.
Reference
Kenner, R. (Director). (2018). Influenza 1918. [Film]. A Robert Kenner Films Production.