Where did the Spanish flu virus originate from?
A report published in 2016 in the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association found evidence that the 1918 virus had been circulating in the European armies for months and possibly years before the 1918 pandemic. There have been statements that the epidemic originated in the United States.
Where did the 1918 flu epidemic start?
Some medical historians and epidemiologists have theorized that the 1918 pandemic began in Asia, citing a lethal outbreak of pulmonary disease in China as the forerunner of the pandemic. Others have speculated the virus was spread by Chinese or Vietnamese laborers either crossing the United States or working in France.
How did the Spanish flu affect life expectancy?
Spanish flu. But in the first year of the pandemic, life expectancy in the United States dropped by about 12 years. Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill juvenile, elderly, or already weakened patients; in contrast, the 1918 pandemic predominantly killed previously healthy young adults.
How did New York City deal with the Spanish flu?
During the flu pandemic of 1918, the New York City health commissioner tried to slow the transmission of the flu by ordering businesses to open and close on staggered shifts to avoid overcrowding on the subways.
What cured the Spanish flu?
Prevention and Treatment of the Spanish Flu. Two types of antiviral drugs, rimantadine (Flumadine ®) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu ®), have been shown to be effective against influenza viruses similar to the 1918 flu virus.
Why was it called the ‘Spanish flu?
The reason it was called the Spanish Influenza was because it was freely reported about in Spain (as wartime censors minimized the reports of sickness to boost wartime morale in countries such as Germany, France, USA, Britain).
When did Spanish flu epidemic end?
The Spanish Flu Pandemic lasted for just over one year and ended in the summer of 1919. 1918 Spanish Flu. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th American President who served in office from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921.
How did the Spanish flu spread?
The Spanish Flu. This pandemic has come to be known as the 1918 or the Spanish Flu. It was caused by an H1N1 influenza A virus that scientists believe mutated from an influenza virus that was previously infecting only birds. It evolved and changed enough that it was able to infect humans and spread rapidly from person to person.