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Table of Contents

Contents Page No.

Introduction 3
Brief History 3
Symptoms 4
Mode of transmission 5
Population at risk 5
Treatment 6
Preventive Strategies 6
Conclusion 7
References 8

Influenza Pandemic of 1918

Introduction
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The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It

was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. Although there is not universal

consensus regarding where the virus originated, it spread worldwide during 1918-1919.

Influenza, also called flu or grippe, an acute viral infection of the upper or lower

respiratory tract that is marked by fever, chills, and a generalized feeling of weakness and

pain in the muscles, together with varying degrees of soreness in the head and abdomen

(Mayo clinic, 2019).

Brief History

Influenza was first identified in united states in one of the military personnel in

spring 1918. The first wave of the 1918 pandemic occurred in the spring and was

generally mild. The sick, who experienced such typical flu symptoms as chills, fever and

fatigue, usually recovered after several days, and the number of reported deaths was low.

However, a second, highly contagious wave of influenza appeared with a

vengeance in the fall of that same year. Victims died within hours or days of developing

symptoms, their skin turning blue and their lungs filling with fluid that caused them to

suffocate. In just one year, 1918, the average life expectancy in America plummeted by a

dozen years. The third wave of the pandemic occurred in the following winter, and by the

spring the virus had run its course. In the two later waves about half the deaths were

among 20- to 40-year-olds, an unusual mortality age pattern for influenza.

It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s

population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at

least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. Mortality
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was high in people younger than 5 years old, 20-40 years old, and 65 years and older. The

high mortality in healthy people, including those in the 20-40 year age group, was a

unique feature of this pandemic. With no vaccine to protect against influenza infection

and no antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections that can be associated with

influenza infections, control efforts worldwide were limited to non-pharmaceutical

interventions such as isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants,

and limitations of public gatherings, which were applied.

The out breaks of influenza occurred in nearly every inhabited part of the world,

first in ports, then spreading from city to city along the main transportation routes. India

is believed to have suffered at least 12.5 million deaths during the pandemic, and the

disease reached distant islands in the South Pacific, including New Zealand and Samoa.

Symptoms

Initially, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and

sore throat. Common signs and symptoms are as follow.

 High fever

 Aching muscles

 Chills and sweats

 Headache

 Dry, persistent cough

 Fatigue and weakness

 Nasal congestion

 Sore throat
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Mode of Transmission

Influenza is generally more frequent during the colder months of the year.

Infection is transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract, by such

means as inhalation of infected droplets resulting from coughing and sneezing. Touching

any area infected of virus , also transfer symptoms. The germs can pick up from an

object such as a telephone or computer keyboard and then transfer them to your eyes,

nose or mouth.

Increased degree of infectiousness of the disease causing agent, human to human

transmission of the disease, and modern means of transportation, such as air travel.

Population at risk

All age groups can be affected but there are groups that are more at risk than

others. Nearly half of the influenza-related deaths in the 1918 pandemic were in young

adults 20 to 40 years of age, a phenomenon unique to that pandemic year. Moreover,

persons <65 years of age accounted for >99% of all excess influenza-related deaths in

1918.

Treatment

 With no cure for the flu, many doctors prescribed medication that they felt would

alleviate symptoms including aspirin. The U.S. Surgeon General, Navy and the

Journal of the American Medical Association had all recommended the use of
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aspirin. But, it was reported that People who are younger than 19 years of age and

receiving long-term aspirin therapy are at risk of developing Reye's syndrome if

infected with influenza.

 The antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine have beneficial effects on cases

of influenza involving the type A virus.

 National Pandemic strategy documents guide for the preparedness and response in

an influenza pandemic, with the intent of stopping, slowing or otherwise limiting

the spread of a pandemic.

 The standard treatment includes, bed rest, ingestion of fluids, and the use of

analgesics to control fever.

 The other strategies recommended are, isolation, quarantine, good personal

hygiene, use of disinfectants, and limitations of public gatherings.

Preventive strategies

 Washing hands regularly and practicing good hygiene are good tactics for

preventing the flu.

 Healthy diet enrich with nutrients and vitamins.

 Social containment measures should be taken early if someone seen any

symptoms.

 Now, it’s been over 60 years vaccine is available. The best course of action is to

receive the flu vaccine every year.

Conclusion
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Influenza is always changing, from season to season and sometime during the

season. 1918 pandemic was considered as deadliest pandemic of the era. It killed millions

of people. Around one third of the population of the world had been infected with

influenza. Now, the vaccines and best possible treatment is available for it. WHO works

to strengthen national, regional and global influenza response capacities including

diagnostics, antiviral susceptibility monitoring, disease surveillance and outbreak

responses, and to increase vaccine coverage among high risk groups and prepare for the

next influenza pandemic.

References

Pandemic Influenza. (2020). from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-

resources/index.htm
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). from https://www.cdc.gov/

The influenza pandemic of 1918. (n.d.). from https://virus.stanford.edu/uda/

Taubenberger, J., &amp; Morens, D. (2006).1918 Influenza: The mother of all

pandemics. Retrieved August 06, 2020, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291398/

Frost, W. H. (1920). Statistics of influenza morbidity: with special reference to certain

factors in case incidence and case fatality. Public Health Reports (1896-1970),

584-597.

Reid, A. H., Fanning, T. G., Janczewski, T. A., Lourens, R. M., & Taubenberger, J. K.

(2004). Novel origin of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus nucleoprotein gene.

Journal of virology, 78(22), 12462-12470.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2020).Influenza pandemic of 1918–19.

from https://www.britannica.com/event/influenza-

pandemic-of-1918-1919

Influenza (flu). (2019).from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

Conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719

Influenza (Seasonal). from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-

(seasonal)
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