This Week in Pandemics - The First Reported Cases of the Spanish Flu

This Week's Historical Theme: Pandemics

 

4 March 1918

 

A significant event throughout the history of pandemics that occurred in March was the first reported cases of the Spanish influenza. Just before breakfast, Private Albert Gitchell of the US army reported to the hospital at Fort Riley, Kansas, complaining of cold-like symptoms of a sore throat, fever, and headache. By noon, over 100 of his fellow soldier had reported similar symptoms, marking the first cases in the historic influenza pandemic of 1918, later known as the Spanish flu. It would eventually kill 675,000 Americans and an estimated 20 million to 50 million people worldwide, proving to be deadlier than the First World War.

 

The initial outbreak was followed by similar outbreaks in army camps and prisons around the country, and soon, the disease travelled to Europe with the American soldiers heading to aid the Allies. 31,000 cases were then reported in June in Great Britain, and over the summer, the first wave hit German forces on the Western Front. It had a significant effect on the already weakening morale of the troops. By the end of the summer, numerous cases had been reported in Russia, North Africa, India, China, Japan, and the Philippines. The influenza continued to wreak havoc after the war had ended and infected an estimated 28% of the United States before it petered out.

 

Want to find out more about the Spanish flu? Click here for more information, or here for more about America's struggled to bury the dead during the pandemic.