1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic Compared with Covid-19

By Duncan MacDonald

We investigate the 1918 Spanish Flu, and compare it with older and newer flu pandemics, including the latest information on the current Covid-19. The Spanish Flu was unusual in killing mostly young and healthy adults, as opposed to more common influenzas, that cause mortality among newborn or the old and infirm. The Spanish Flu could strike suddenly, and rendered victims too feeble to walk within hours. Many would die the next day. The Spanish Influenza killed a high proportion of 20 to 40 year old's. Covid-19 mostly affects those over the age of 65, especially those with pre-existing illnesses.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duncan MacDonald
• Release date: Dec 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005650841

Duncan MacDonald

Duncan is an Australian currently living in Jakarta, Indonesia. He is married to Shinta Dewi Sanawiya, muse, mate, motivator and President Director of the business he founded in 1993, dMAC Group in Asia, now PT Daya MACro Dinamika.Duncan has had a passion for history since childhood. He travelled alone to Turkey in 1975 to visit ANZAC Cove, scene of Australia and New Zealand’s entry to World War I. He then worked for 5 years in London, enabling him to research the Roman Empire’s occupation of Britain and question the Arthurian legends. He has published his illustrated historical e-novels set in Ireland and Britain in the 1st-7th centuries on Smashwords. Search for 'Culann - Celtic Warrior Monk'.Duncan has also published an illustrated account of his private pilgrimage to 'Anzac Cove and Lone Pine in 1975' - Search for 'Anzac'Those interested in obtaining the latest historical information on the Battle of Waterloo, (detailing who actually defeated Napoleon) can download Duncan's illustrated version in dMAC Digest Vol 4 No 6 'Waterloo'. Also the Jakarta Journals, tracing Indonesian history over the past 2,000 years, up to granting of Independence in December 1949.Any one of Duncan's 12 'dMAC Digest Health & History' magazines, or 5 illustrated historical novels can be downloaded at Smashwords.'Britannia Bulletin #1 and #2' are the latest illustrated historical novel published by Duncan. Set in the 1st & 2nd century CE we follow the adventures of a Roman Legionary in Europe & Britain. He records the lives of the early Roman Emperors and Governors of Britannia, their initial rise to power and occasional fall from grace. Major battles are dealt with in detail.

Book preview

1918 Spanish Flu

Pandemic

Compared with Covid-19

By

Duncan MacDonald

29 December 2021

Dedicated to my darling wife Shinta D.S. MacDonald – muse, mate, and motivator

Copyright 2021 Duncan MacDonald

Published by Duncan MacDonald at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please download an additional copy for each recipient.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

We investigate the 1918 Spanish Flu, and compare it with older and newer flu pandemics, including the latest information on the current Covid -19.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Spanish Flu – the 1918 Pandemic

1.1 - The First Recorded Case

1.2 - Early Records of Influenza

1.3 - 20th Century Pandemics

1.4 - 21st Century Pandemics

1.5 - Spanish Flu Killed More People than

Chapter 2 - Why was the 1918 Spanish Flu the deadliest?

2.1 – Most Deadly for 20 to 40s

Chapter 3 – 1918 Time-line in the USA

Chapter 4 – Case Studies

4.1 - Social Facts

Chapter 5 – World War 1

5.1 Treaty of Versailles

Chapter 6 – Notable Victims

Conclusion:

That’s Life

About the Author

Other books by Duncan MacDonald

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Introduction

Influenza, or flu, is a virus that attacks the respiratory system. The flu virus is extremely contagious. When an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, respiratory droplets are generated and transmitted into the air. Anyone nearby can inhale them, and become infected.

Flu outbreaks occur every year and vary in severity, depending on what type of virus is spreading.

In the United States, the flu season generally runs from late fall [September, October, November] into spring [March, April, May]. In a typical year, more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalised for flu-related illnesses. There has been some 3,000 to 49,000 flu-related U.S. deaths annually, over the past three decades. [CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

The Covid-19 pandemic was first discovered on 17 November 2019 in Wuhan, China [ initially called SARS-Cov-2 ]. It has altered the lives of people around the world, resulting in a significant death toll. To get a better understanding of the current pandemic, it is useful to compare historical pandemics, such as the Spanish influenza of 1918.

The 1918 Spanish Influenza killed a high proportion of 20 to 40 year old’s. Covid-19 mostly affects those over the age of 65,