Information on Spanish Flu

The Spanish influenza outbreak of 1918 was caused by a strain of influenza A called H1N1. The flu affected one third of the world's population, dubbing it the most devastating epidemic in recorded history.

Origins

• While not proven conclusively, the origin of the Spanish flu is thought to be in Haskell County, Kansas, with soldiers preparing to enter the World War I.

Etymology

• Nations engaged in fighting put restrictions on disease reporting. Spain was a neutral country, so the most accurate information about the pandemic came out of Spain.

Spread

• As WWI began, the deployed soldiers spread the disease before showing symptoms. The flu moved from Kansas to New York within days and appeared, mutated, overseas in Sierra Leone by August 1918.

Waves

• The flu spread in waves, the second being more deadly then the first. The second wave killed young, healthy adults by overstimulating their active immune systems, while the extremely old and young were less hard hit.

Patterns

• The nations that were the least affected, such as Japan and American Samoa, also had the most restrictions of maritime travel during the war. This is a direct result of the virus spreading along routes of human travel.