I had a little bird, its name was Enza
I opened up the window and in flew Enza
During the latter part of the first world war, around 1918, a new virus that turned soldiers
blue and had them vomiting up blood was observed in Spain. This virus had first seen in
American barracks and facilities in Europe and when stationed in Spain, the virus had
exploded in size. Being all over Spain meant it could reach the far edges of the world.
blue and had them vomiting up blood was observed in Spain. This virus had first seen in
American barracks and facilities in Europe and when stationed in Spain, the virus had
exploded in size. Being all over Spain meant it could reach the far edges of the world.
The virus had seen up to 100 million people die worldwide with some populations being
crushed completely. No one was safe. It was like the worldwide bubonic plague. The Virus
had done thousands of soldiers in with all infected having to be absent from combat because
the symptoms were so bad. While at first in 1918, the Americans, British, and French had the
virus, the Germans had soon become infected too. This Spanish Flu was actually a very main
cause of why the German Offensive was halted and pushed back. Not only did German supply
lines and reserves dry up, but the active troops were dropping because of the Flu and the
offensive halted.
crushed completely. No one was safe. It was like the worldwide bubonic plague. The Virus
had done thousands of soldiers in with all infected having to be absent from combat because
the symptoms were so bad. While at first in 1918, the Americans, British, and French had the
virus, the Germans had soon become infected too. This Spanish Flu was actually a very main
cause of why the German Offensive was halted and pushed back. Not only did German supply
lines and reserves dry up, but the active troops were dropping because of the Flu and the
offensive halted.
In the U.S, when the virus spread to the civilian population, many measures were put in to curb
the infection rates. Doctors were now employed to not only treat but try to vaccinate and get
rid of the disease. Nurses were always on constant shifts in American Hospitals and the draft was
put on hold so that these new soldiers would not be infected for the sake of getting infected. Not
only this, but public spitting was now arrestable on sight. The Plague took many lives, clearing out whole villages in Alaska and striking fear into those who lived in both rural and urban areas
in the U.S.
With such a massive impact on the end of the war, the Spanish Flu proved a deadly andthe infection rates. Doctors were now employed to not only treat but try to vaccinate and get
rid of the disease. Nurses were always on constant shifts in American Hospitals and the draft was
put on hold so that these new soldiers would not be infected for the sake of getting infected. Not
only this, but public spitting was now arrestable on sight. The Plague took many lives, clearing out whole villages in Alaska and striking fear into those who lived in both rural and urban areas
in the U.S.
destructive plague. However, this is one of the least remembered plagues in history despite
its massive kill count. It is a highly discussed topic on why today we do not give enough
credence to the Spanish Flu but many believe it to be lesser in comparison to the war, therefore
it carried less weight in the era and subsequently today.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnRxQjaexHM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ9WX4qVxEo&t=134s
I never could imagine how devastating the Spanish Flu was in World War 1. Without vaccines and proper medical care, diseases and infections that are preventable today were deadly back then. I did some research,and found that apparently over 6 million people died to war-related famine and disease in the USSR alone.
ReplyDeleteSources:
Krivosheev, G.F. (1997). Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century. Greenhill Books. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-85367-280-4.
The Cambridge History of Russia: The Twentieth Century, Cambridge University Press, p.226