Welcome to Waushara County, Wisconsin!
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Welcome to Waushara County, Wisconsin!
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Site Search: History – Pandemic Influenza in the United States
Pandemic Influenza is not a new disease in our nation’s history. In fact in the 20th century alone the United States experienced three pandemic influenza outbreaks. In spring 1918 the United States was on the verge of the worst pandemic influenza outbreak ever recorded, which is now known as the Spanish flu. It is still debated exactly how the pandemic began but many point to a soldier camp in Kansas that saw the first 100 cases after an unusual smoke filled the air due to the daily burning of pig manure. At the time doctors did not identify this disease as the flu and attributed these deaths to pneumonia. By fall, six months later, the pandemic had spread worldwide targeting the strongest members of society ages 21 to 34. In October 1918 alone, the city of Philadelphia recorded 11,000 deaths due to the Spanish flu. To this day October 1918 is the deadliest month in our nation’s history, recording the loss of 195,000 American lives to the Spanish flu. In total the United States lost 500,000 Americans. More Americans died of the Spanish flu than all wars of the 20th century combined. Worldwide approximately 40 to 50 million people died from the Spanish flu. The Spanish flu lasted well into spring 1919. Though the Spanish flu was the most devastating pandemic influenza in United States history the states did experience others. In 1957 and 1958, 1.5 millions people died worldwide, including 70,000 Americans, because of the Asian flu. In 1968 and 1969, the Hong Kong Flu killed 34,000 Americans and 700,000 people worldwide. For additional information on the Pandemic Influenza outbreaks of the 20th Century visit: |
