Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 1

Brent Weaver
Community Nursing
Wendy Thomas
September 22, 2021
Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 2

Abstract

This analyze looks at the similarities and differences between the Spanish flu of 1918 and

Covid-19 virus pandemics. This paper will be identifying the effects of these global threats to

community health. Successful interventions were implemented to help promote community

health and prevent further spread. While this piece will also evaluation what mistakes were made

during each period of the pandemics. These pandemics had worldwide repercussions from

continued ignorance when the initial outbreak began. Statistics are used to prove the value of

each outbreak and its impact on community health.

Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 3

What is the worse pandemic of all time? How bad is the corona virus when viewed

regarding all the past outbreaks? One previous pandemic that has several similarities is the

Spanish flu of 1918. The Spanish flu brought out a massive crisis into what viruses were capable

of. The Covid-19 outbreak was an example of history repeating itself when looking at the flu

outbreak of 1918. Most individuals often overlook the severity of public health which can spiral

into major health issues within the community. The Spanish flu and Corona virus are well known

viruses that have been problematic to mankind across the world through its entirety, but which

infection has proven to be more disastrous?

The comparison of Covid-19 and the Spanish Flu of 1918 are spitting images of each

other when considering its effect on the world. Liang stated as a result from her research, “Both

the COVID-19 and 1918 influenza pandemic similarly caused significant negative impacts on the

global economy, affecting international relations, and had considerable delay in its diagnosis,

treatment, and vaccines.” (Liang, 2021) This statement addresses the multiple areas where each

pandemic has a specific correlation. Global economy is an issue often related to any pandemics

causing negative implications on production and supply chain logistics. The medical treatment

looking into these health complications was delayed in finding an efficient way to stop the

spread and improve prognosis. According to the forgotten pandemic video, the Flu was not taken

serious early and media as well as government downplayed the Spanish Flu. (Spanish flu 1918:

The Forgotten pandemic, 2020) Each pandemic showed the effect of not reacting properly to the

trends during the spread of Corona and Spanish Flu.

The major distinguishments between each pandemic is the population size of those who

have got the infection, transmission rate, era of occurrence in medical technology. Half a million

people died as an effect of Covid-19, but if the rate of the Spanish Flu was the same the corona
Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 4

virus would reach 2 million dead. Mineo investigates the difference of population sizing ratio

and mode of spread when addressing each issue, “There were fewer than 2 billion people in

1918, and now there are 7.5 billion, and the population is much more mobile. In 1918, there was

no air travel. People move around much more, and the spread of a virus is much faster than

before, when people traveled by ship or horse, or didn’t travel much at all. Another difference is

that in 1918, between 50 and 100 million people died within two years.” (Mineo, 2020) This

claim is sufficient by displaying how the current population has more modes of transportation to

spread infections across the globe. While Spanish Flu was more contagious due to the close

living quarter of not only military but individuals in large cities around the world. Medical

advancements are different now compared to 100 years ago which could change the severity of

treating for the Spanish Flu making it less severe possibly.

A ‘global threat’ is what these two pandemics are in a summary of two words, which is

never good to hear. The world health organization declared ways each outbreak can be slowed

down by stating, “Main way to prevent the Corona virus is to get vaccinated, tested to stop the

spread, and wear a mask. While the Spanish flu of 1918 isolated and wearing masks were the

only possible way to stop the spread.” (WHO, 2020) The implementation of masks was used to

slow the spread during these threats and was controversial 100 years ago just like today. Global

threats are extremely concerning because they are not affecting a small group but all around the

world. This effects community health by making it necessary to spread awareness on the issues

that are damaging the community’s wellbeing as healthcare providers. Hand washing is a prime

example that was used to help slow the spread in both outbreaks and is a standard practice in

preventing the transmission of illness.

Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 5

Successful interventions were used to help promote community heath and prevent further

spread such as hand washing which was previously stated, isolation, and wearing a mask. Liang

addresses that isolation was a key part to maintain each outbreak before becoming worse than it

was by stating, “Since neither an influenza vaccine nor antibiotics to treat associated secondary

bacterial infections were available, worldwide containment efforts relied heavily on isolation and

quarantine similar to the current efforts against COVID-19.” (Liang, 2021) Isolation was

important during the pandemics because it gave researchers and scientists time to discover new

ways to treat and prevent the problem from spiraling out of complete control. While the mask

mandate that was implemented for both pandemics have proven to reduce the number of

individuals who were infected by protecting those who were not infected. Masks reduce the

percentage of droplets that can cause people to become ill with these disorders.

Mistakes were also made during each period of these pandemics particularly considering

the transmission of the infections. Community transmission of COVID-19 was first officially

detected in the United States in February 2020. By mid-March, all 50 states, the District of

Columbia, New York City, and four U.S. territories had reported cases of COVID-19. (WHO) In

mid-March the United States went into a country wide lockdown following many European

countries. Which is a major controversial topic in the United States whether the timing was

appropriate. While during the Spanish Flu the same complication took place with travel from

World War 1 in 1918 many soldiers were getting and spreading the flu without even knowing

what it was or having it aware to the community around us. Each infectious outbreak had a delay

in diagnosing which slowed the spread and made the conditions to build up to the status of a

global pandemic.
Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 6

More lessons that crucial to learn from the mistakes our country has made in the past is a

direct result from being prepared and listening to the leaders that are qualified to make such

decisions. Olga Jones who has studied the effects of pandemics and government responses to

major crisis, including the influenza outbreak in 1918 and Corona Virus currently. Jones has put

on the record stating, “One lesson that I hope we all learn is that governments should invest in

the core public health capacities that are required for pandemic preparedness and pandemic

prevention efforts. & The other lesson we should always remember is that governments should

listen to experts and scientists who know how to best prevent the spread of infectious diseases.”

(Mineo, 2020) What Jones is saying is the purpose of government organizations is to be ready to

help during issues that effect a large influx of people. It is also the people’s responsibility to

respect and listen to the leaders in charge during community health outbreaks. These points are

an example of two problems that were detrimental to our society during these pandemics. Both

governments at the time of these pandemics did not have programs in place to effectively treat

these disorders at the mass rates the numbers produced. As for the reasoning behind having

numbers rising at critical levels is due to the individuals within our society not following

standard practice of hand hygiene and following community health leader’s guidelines. Health

leaders such as scientistic researchers and medical doctors who are trained in the category of

public health are qualified to tell the public the right way to approach pandemic related concerns.

My final evaluation on this topic of discussion leads me to who was affected the most by

each pandemic. Liang’s research presents, “While the 1918 influenza killed a disproportionate

number of 25–40 year olds, COVID-19 mostly affects those over the age of 65, especially those

also with comorbidities.” (Liang, 2021) This is a key part of the distinguishment between Covid-

19 and the influenza of 1918. Depending on how you perceive the death total in age groups while
Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 7

factoring in comorbidities into the equation it is difficult to get a straight answer regarding which

pandemic is worse. The Spanish flu of 1918 in my opinion is the worst pandemic when

comparing the two due to elderly patients above 65 years old have diminished immune systems.

Younger individuals on average have stronger immune systems and less comorbidities making

the virus more deadly when considering the general populations lifespan.

In conclusion, the Spanish flu is worse than Corona virus when analyzing what pandemic

was more catastrophic to global health. Both outbreaks had many similar issues but differences

at the same time during the duration of their time. The severity of community health concerns

could have been avoided in each instance if public health awareness took a more precautionary

approach earlier on. Although these pandemics were a dangerous threat to society it is difficult to

pick a particular one due to Corona virus not being finished yet. The numbers not being finalized

leaves a flaw in any discussion or debate of the two. Ultimately, the information used in this

analyze was as up to date as possible for research purposes, but only time will tell which

pandemic will be the worst.

Analysis of Spanish Flu 1918 and COVID pandemic 2020 Weaver 8

Reference Page

Liang, S. T., Liang, L. T., & Rosen, J. M. (2021, May 1). COVID-19: A comparison to the 1918
influenza and how we can defeat it. Postgraduate Medical Journal. Retrieved September
15, 2021, from https://pmj.bmj.com/content/97/1147/273#ref-2.

Mineo, L. (2020, July 21). Harvard expert compares 1918 Flu, covid-19. Harvard Gazette.
Retrieved September 14, 2021, from
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/05/harvard-expert-compares-1918-flu-covid-
19/.

who. (2020, June 15). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). YouTube. Retrieved September 13,
2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0ZabxXmH4Y.

YouTube. (2020, April 19). Spanish flu 1918: The Forgotten pandemic. YouTube. Retrieved
September 13, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvt0ldtJFIM.