Unit 3 - Influenza Epidemic of 1918

The Influenza Epidemic of 1918, also known as the Spanish flu, was between 1918 to 1920 and was caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain.
The Spanish flu killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide in just 18 months which was more than the deaths of World War I. It is called the Spanish flu because it got greater press attention in Spain than in the rest of the world.

The mortality rate from the pandemic is estimated at 2.5% - 5% of the human population, with 20% of the world population suffering to some extent. The Spanish flu could strike suddenly and within hours the person would be to weak to walk, most died the next day. The Spanish flu caused a large outbreak of fear amongst the people due to the ability of it being able to fatal to a healthy young man as much as a child, elderly person, and people with a weak immune system.

The Spanish flu killed 25 million people in 25 weeks, and AIDS killed 25 million people in it's first 25 years. The Avian flu is feared of being the next Spanish flu, but is currently somewhat being kept at bay. The Spanish flu was a huge danger that was luckily able to be stopped or the world population could have become much smaller.