The world is grappling with the most recent pandemic caused by a virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This coronavirus has triggered fears among Americans as it emerged as a novel disease. May notes that it was evident no one was “immune to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus” right from the time the first case was reported. Several conspiracy theories emerged about how the respiratory illness began, as researchers and experts could not establish the source or carrier of the virus. This is not the first pandemic to occur, as a historical review of world history shows that countries have previously faced a similarly major pandemic, the Spanish flu, of 1918. A critical comparison of two pandemics reveals that both diseases are caused by novel viruses and the US adopted similar containment measures, such as wearing masks and social isolation, although it is apparent that CIVID-19 has been relatively more devastating than the Spanish flue.
The historical background of the two pandemics reveals some differences, although the US responded in almost the same way to both due to the diseases’ shared characteristics. Stronchlic and Champine report that the Spanish flu also called the influenza pandemic of 1918, was caused by the H1N1 virus. On the other hand, a type of coronaviruses called SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the current pandemic. The origin of the 1918 H1Ni virus remains obscure although it has been shown that World War I soldiers facilitated its spread. According to Webel and Freeman, “soldier mobilization created a situation well-suited to influenza dispersal,” making it difficult to establish the exact origin. However, the world community is confident that COVID-19 started in China, as it was first reported in the country’s Wuhan province. Hence, COVID-19 and the Spanish flu differ in both the causing virus and history of origin.
Like the Spanish flu, COVID-19 has infected and caused many deaths in the US and across the globe. However, a detailed review of the figures reveals that the current pandemic has been more devastating compared to the 1918 influenza, as it has led to over 15 million deaths in less than a year since the initial case was reported (Stronchlic and Champine). The number might continue to rise because the virus has not been contained fully. According to Webel and Freeman, “the Spanish flu killed 50 million people globally, with 675,000 in the United States between 1918 and 1920,” although research shows that the statistic cannot be ascertained. The US and other countries lacked effective reporting channels in 1918, meaning that the severity of the 1918 influenza might not have been documented correctly. Nevertheless, nations were preoccupied with the First World War to the extent that they might have suppressed reports of infections and deaths due to the disease. Even then, it is apparent that the US cannot have underreported the severity by up to several million fatalities.
Both the 1918 influenza and COVID-19 share a common aspect of being novel diseases, although they affected different age groups uniquely. Like the Spanish flu, COVID-19 emerged as a strange disease, meaning human bodies lacked the immunity needed for protection from both viruses. Bristow asserts that the 1918 pandemic affected and killed more healthy persons within the 20-40 age bracket than any other group, much as mortality was still high among people below five years and those above 65 (136). The situation has been different with COVID-19, as the virus is seemingly killing more persons above 65 years than any other age group. Jones notes that older individuals with underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are the worst affected cohort. Children and younger healthy adults report mild symptoms, which disappear before they are recognized in some cases. Hence, different from the Spanish flu, COVID-19 is affecting a different population disparagingly, despite sharing the common attribute of being novel viruses.
The US and other world governments adopted similar containment measures to both the 1918 influenza and COVID-19, as the two diseases share a major characteristic of being contagious. Critical measures taken to mitigate both pandemics include restrictions on transportation systems, mandatory social distancing requirements, restrained public meetings, and isolation of identified or suspected cases. According to Stronchlic and Champine, “placing restrictions on transportation; mandating social distancing, and banning public gatherings are among the key measures adopted to combat both plagues.” Besides, people are required to wear facemasks whenever visiting public places, a method that was similarly used during the earlier pandemic. These methods proved effective in controlling the Spanish flu, although the government had to involve the police and other agencies in ensuring the public observed recommended health protocols (Stronchlic and Champine). Ostensibly, authorities are actively involved in compelling citizens to follow COVID-19 containment measures.
In overview, it is apparent that COVID-19 has been relatively more lethal and overwhelming than the Spanish flu of 1918, although it has been shown that the two pandemics resulted from novel viruses. However, the pandemics feature certain stark differences in how they affected communities. The Spanish flu proved deadly among persons within the 20-40 age bracket, whereas COVID-19 has proven to be more devastating among older people, especially those with underlying health conditions. Nevertheless, the current pandemic has led to over 15 million deaths, whereas the earlier influenza pandemic killed about 675,000 US citizens. The US government has since initiated COVID-19 containment measures similar to those adopted earlier in 1918, as the two viruses share critical similarities of being transmissible.
Works Cited
Bristow, Nancy K. “It’s as Bad as Anything Can Be:’ Patients, Identity, and the Influenza Pandemic.” Public Health Reports, vol 125, no. 3, 2010, pp. 134-144, Sage Journals.
Jones, David S. “History in a Crisis – Lessons for Covid-19.” The New England Journal of Medicine, Web.
May, Megan. “Inequality Amplifies African Americans COVID-19 Risk.” The University of North Carolina, 2020. Web.
Stronchlic, Nina, and Riley D. Champine. “How Some Cities ‘Flattened the Curve’ During the 1918 Flu Pandemic.” National Geographic, 2020. Web.
Webel, Mari, and Megan Culler Freeman. “Compare the Flu Pandemic of 1918 and COVID-19 With Caution.” Smithsonian Magazine, 2020. Web.