The Spanish Flu Pandemic

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The Spanish Flu Pandemic
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1918 Spanish Flu

• In the United States alone, 675,000 people died
  in the year 1918 alone from the so-called Spanish
  Flu. 
• Researchers today argue that the Spanish Flu was
  actually bird flu.

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• As America prepared for war, a soldier at an Army
  fort in Kansas reported to the base hospital with
  flu-like symptoms.
• There, he was diagnosed as having a strain of flu
  that was called Spanish Influenza (since it was
  erroneously believed the strain had originated in
  Spain).

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Pandemic

• The 1918 strain of flu created not just an
  epidemic -- but a global pandemic causing
  25,000,000 deaths.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 1 Augusta's Camp Hancock experienced an
  outbreak of the Spanish influenza then sweeping
  the nation.
• On the previous day only two soldiers had been in
  the infirmary. On this day, 716 showed up with
  flu-like symptoms--and it would get worse.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 2 The Spanish influenza epidemic of
  1918-19 hits Georgia.
• At Camp Gordon near Atlanta, the second day of
  the outbreak finds 138 soldiers with the deadly
  flu, ten of whom had already died of pneumonia.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 5 Four days after the initial breakout of
  two cases of Spanish influenza, Augusta's Camp
  Hancock reported 3000 cases of flu.
• Already, 52 soldiers had died of the disease.
  Furthermore, the epidemic had now spread off base
  with 47 cases reported in the Augusta area.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 7 Acting upon a recommendation from the
  U.S. Public Health Service, the Atlanta City
  Council declared all public gathering places
  closed for two months as a precautionary measure
  against the epidemic of Spanish influenza
  sweeping the nation.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• What would this have meant in 1918?
• What would this mean today?

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• This ban included schools, libraries, churches,
  and theaters.
• Street cars were directed to keep all windows
  open -- except in rain.
• Today, this would include shopping malls, public
  transportation, and centers of entertainment.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• In a precautionary move, the University of
  Georgia announced it was indefinitely suspending
  classes.
• Back in Augusta, where the epidemic was most
  active, military officials on this day ordered
  soldiers to sleep under the stars, and by now
  everyone was wearing gauze masks during the day.
• No one was allowed on base except close
  relatives, and soldiers were restricted from
  going to Atlanta without a special pass.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 8 W.H. White, Jr., president of the
  Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, urged landlords not
  to evict those infected with Spanish influenza,
  saying they had no authority to do so and added
  that any such evictions be reported to his
  office.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• That same day, all Fulton County school children
  reported to class, got their books and some final
  instructions, then were sent home for the
  duration of the public gathering ban announced
  the previous day.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 9 Precautionary measures against the
  spread of Spanish influenza in Atlanta seemed to
  be working as few new cases were reported.
  Meanwhile, the flu epidemic continued to spread
  through the country.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 10 Atlanta remained relatively healthy as
  only 105 new cases of Spanish influenza were
  reported, with only eight deaths in the past
  week. These numbers were far fewer than those in
  other East Coast cities of similar size.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 11 Spanish influenza cases remained
  relatively low in Atlanta, while the University
  of Georgia announced classes would resume October
  21.
• Classes had been suspended October 7 as a
  precaution against the Spanish flu epidemic.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 15 The Spanish influenza epidemic
  sweeping the nation hit Macon, with 250 new cases
  reported in the previous 48 hours.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• A new preventative measure also appeared on the
  streets of Macon -- "flu masks", which basically
  were cloth masks with small eye, nose, and mouth
  holes.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• October 17 Medical authorities reported 209 new
  cases of Spanish influenza in Atlanta, still far
  less than most comparable cities. By now the flu
  had appeared in every state but was deadliest
  along the eastern seaboard.
• Hardest hit was Cartersville, with almost 1000
  new cases on this day.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• November 5 Fulton County public schools were
  re-opened after having been closed to help
  prevent the spread of Spanish influenza.

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History of Spanish Flu in GA

• With "only" 750 deaths, Atlanta would get off
  lightly from a worldwide epidemic that would kill
  675,000 Americans--more deaths than resulted from
  World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the
  Vietnam War combined.
• Globally, 40 million people died in just 18
  months.

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What if this happened today?

• What if you arrived at school today and were told
  to go straight home for an indefinite amount of
  time?
• How would you feel? Would your family be
  prepared?
• How would you pass the time? For a week? Three
  weeks? Three months?