The Influenza Virus: The Spanish Flu Of 1918

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The Influenza Virus dates back over 2,400 years to the time of Hippocrates. The word itself comes from the Latin word influenza. At the time, many people believed that the flu was an astrological “influence”. After changes in the medical study of the virus the medical personnel said that it was “influenza de freddo” meaning influence of the cold. However the flu had been around a long time at this point. The first convincing accounts of the flu virus was in the year 1580. The virus started in Russia, spread to Europe, and then through Africa. The major influenza pandemic and most notable was known as the Spanish Flu (Type A Influenza, H1N1). The virus was known specifically for its death tolls which ranged from 20-100 million people depending on the …show more content…
The Spanish Flu of 1918 killed predominantly the least susceptible age group, which is the ages between 20-40 years old. During this flu epidemic over 50% of its casualties were in this age range. The disease was suspected of using strong cytokine storms to infect over 50% of the population. Unlike other strains of the flu, the Spanish Flu was very fatal. Most flu viruses opened up its victim to secondary infection such as bacterial based pneumonia, which is what causes the virus to be fatal. The Spanish Flu however killed people by causing them to hemorrhage and form edema in the lungs. Following the Spanish Flu, a few other notable epidemics were the 1957 Asian Flu, and 1968 Hong Kong Flu. With the severity of the flu over the years a group of scientists went to find a cure in the year 1944. Although a cure was never found with the help of scientists from year to year and getting your annual flu shot it is possible to combat the influenza

Influenza Pandemic Of 1918 Research Paper

may or may not be a good thing. In the year of 1918, the unexpected happened to many people around the globe; the Spanish Flu epidemic broke out in America and many other countries. This unexpected and tragic surprise was not something good and is known today as “the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history” according to the article “The Influenza Pandemic of 1918” from virus.stanford.edu. Almost every living person was affected by this flu epidemic and it was known to have had a great…

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Influenza Research Paper

The Era Of Influenza A lot of people mistake Influenza for the common cold, and all though the symptoms are similar, Influenza is ten times more deadly. Unlike the common cold, Influenza attacks the lungs, filling them with fluid. Without a cure Influenza can lead to death. Influenza was first discovered in 1918, in Kansas, with cases of fever, chills, coughing, and fatigue started to pour in the hospitals, panic fled through the towns of Kansas. As people where trying to cope with this sudden…

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Spanish Influenza In 1918

In 1918, a sickness known as the Spanish Influenza affected approximately 500,000,000 people and killed about 50,000,000. It was mainly found in the United States, Asia, and Europe, becoming the deadliest pandemic in modern history. The flu was first observed in Europe where 8,000,000 deaths were recorded in Spain alone in a time span of just 2-3 months, earning the name the “Spanish Influenza”. No effective medicine or vaccine had existed at the time, in fact, doctors and scientists believed that…

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Essay On Influenza In 1918

The influenza of 1918-1919, a pandemic. What was different about the virus in 1918 than now? Our viruses were circulating among the nation. Vaccination is offered. Influenza pandemic immerges through a new virus that has no immune protection. What was so special about this influenza virus? One of the most virulent strains of influenza in history swooped the world in waves during 1918. During WWI, the 1918 strain of pandemic influenza found many ways to spread through the war. During this…

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Influenza: Mortality Rate and Deaths Essay

Introduction Spanish influenza is a highly contagious and fatal disease caused by influenza virus H1N1 that is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets or via fomites . The symptoms of influenza are similar to those of seasonal flu and include fever, chills, sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, bodyaches, and fatigue. Thus, diagnosis can only be confirmed via a laboratory test of a throat and nasal swab . The Spanish flu 1918 pandemic beginning with an index case, the…

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Spanish Flu Research Paper

particular disease that emerged in the beginning of the twentieth century was the Spanish Flu. The Spanish flu is a viral disease that first appeared in 1917 and who's geographic location remains a mystery. Scientists are unclear of the virus's origin, but recent findings by Historian Mark Humphries of Canada's Memorial University of Newfoundland suggest it came from East Asia, China to be exact. Humphries research confirms the virus erupted in China, as there have been medical records found. Taken by local…

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1918 Influenza Pandemic Research Paper

The 1918 influenza pandemic, often known as the Spanish Flu, was a devastating health crisis that swiftly swept through the majority of the nation. In fact, as this flu rapidly expanded across the globe, it earned the alarming reputation of being the deadliest epidemic on record up to that point in history. The 1918 influenza pandemic “would kill more than twice as many as the Great War itself—somewhere between 25 million and 40 million people” (The People of A Nation textbook). Furthermore, the…

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Influenza Rhetorical Analysis

Historical/Rhetorical Context for Public Leadership In 1918, as public leaders focused their attention on the war effort, a new unseen enemy emerged. An influenza pandemic, commonly referred to as the “Spanish flu,” initially struck United States military camps. As soldiers were shipped en masse to the frontlines, influenza silently followed, eventually infecting every corner of the globe. The 1918 flu ravaged humanity for eighteen months, claiming the lives of roughly fifty million people and racking…

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How Did The Influenza Change The World

The influenza epidemic of 1918-1919, had an enormous impact on people all over the world. The influenza transformed the way everyone saw the world, and dramatically caused people to value their life. The deaths of several people during such a short amount of time traumatized, and emotionally changed everyone’s life. A tragedy like this changed the way everyone viewed the world, and the value of life itself. This disease was not only harmful to the people, but to our entire nation. The influenza…

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