THE SPANISH FLU

Be very glad you weren't a soldier in 1918

About 100 years ago an influenza mutated to initiate what now is called N1H1 flu virus.  In about three years H1N1 managed to kill about 50 million people world-wide, or approximately three times as many as died in WW1, which was going on at the same time.  H1N1 probably was born somewhere in central Kansas, although alternative theories exist.  What became known (erroneously) as the Spanish Flu spread  like lightening throughout the world largely because of the war; large masses of men crowded together under less than sanitary conditions provide an ideal field of battle for an ill-intentioned virus.  Almost every community in the United States was affected, with up to 10% moralities.  In the early 20^th century the only defense against a pandemic was quarantine.  Lake City. Colorado escaped entirely by the somewhat brutal expedient of placing guys with shotguns at all entrances to the town.

Well, anyway, The Economist magazine contains an interesting article on the Spanish Flu.  Here it is:

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/09/29/the-centenary-of-the-20th-centurys-worst-catastrophe

By coincidence, I have just finished reading a book on the same subject: The Great Influenza, by John M. Barry.  You can buy it for next to nothing at Abebooks.  It is mildly absorbing and will teach you a lot about viruses and pandemics, but in general I don’t recommend it.  For me, its over-arching theme is the invincible stupidity of the U.S. federal bureaucracy. I sure hope things are better now.