The Worst Pandemic Is Seen In Spanish Flu History

Throughout history, there are certain events that had such an impact on the world that they are difficult to forget. One such event is the Spanish flu pandemic, which history has shown is the worst pandemic ever. With this status, the 1918 flu pandemic trumps the Bubonic Plague of the 1300s and the Yellow Fever epidemic of the 1700s, which alludes to the pandemic’s severity. Though there are few remaining survivors of the pandemic today, people look back on it as one historic event that nobody cares to repeat.

Misleading Origins

Though everyone throughout the history of the twentieth century has referred to the pandemic as the Spanish flu. The flu pandemic of 1918 did not actually begin in Spain. In fact, it is thought to have started in Fort Reilly, Kansas in the United States. The reason the outbreak was deemed by history as the Spanish Flu was because Spain is thought to be the country most affected by it.

The Spanish Flu, according to history books, spread rapidly. It was one of the quickest spreading diseases in history. Perhaps the reason it was able to affect so many people so quickly was due to World War I. Because the war was happening at that time, soldiers from various countries easily came into contact with one another. Likewise, Spain did not participate in the war and was unaware of the disease until it was too late.

A Long Lasting Legacy

The greatest number of deaths in pandemic history were caused by the Spanish Flu. It is estimated that around the world, somewhere between 50 and 100 million people died in a mere 18 months. This means that about 5% of the world’s population died of influenza.

Science Speaks

The Spanish Flu was unique in that it mostly affected people between the ages of 16 and 40, rather than the very young and the very old. This has led scientists to argue that the reason the death tolls were so high was due to a very rare occurrence in history—a cytokine storm. This is when the immune system over reacts to an outside presence, and ends up causing excess cell presence and the build up of tissues.

A Historical Appreciation

Due to modern medicine, it is difficult for people these days to understand the trauma and fear that people went through during the entire history of the Spanish Flu. However, knowing this history allows people to better appreciate these modern medical marvels.