What Are the Effects of the Spanish Flu?

The Spanish flu of 1918 was a pandemic that killed more than 50 million people worldwide. It's called Spanish flu because the virus killed 8 million people in Spain in May 1918.

History

• The first outbreaks of the Spanish flu occurred in U.S. military camps in March 1918. It was not identified as a serious illness, so public health officials missed an opportunity to stifle its spread.

Impact

• The Spanish flu occurred in massive waves of infection. U.S. soldiers carried the virus overseas, where it infected people in other countries and killed more soldiers than weapons did. It came back to the war-time shipping port of Boston in September 1918 and spread across the United States. When American soldiers returned home after the war ended, millions more citizens caught the flu and thousands died.

Effects

• When people saw the dangers of uncontrolled disease, they began to accept public health authority. They learned to appreciate the role of scientists who study and control infectious disease.

Significance

• The devastating consequences of the Spanish flu spurred the development of germ theory, antiseptic surgery and vaccines that form the basis of infection prevention today.

Considerations

• Scientists learned the importance of identifying new epidemics early and taking measures to stop the spread of infection.