Influenza, 1918: The Worst Epidemic in American History

by Lynette Iezzoni and Lynette Izzoni

Book Overview

Influenza 1918 is the true story of the worst epidemic the United States has ever known -- a deadly virus that made its silent appearance 80 years ago at the start of World War I and went on to take... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157500108X
• ISBN13: 9781575001081
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: TV Books
• Length: 238 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Chilling Portrait of a Killer Disease

This book gives a day by day, city by city, nation by nation acount of the great influenza pandemic of 1918. Called the "Spanish Flu", the flu killed over 500,000 people in the USA, and anywhere from 20 million to 100 million worldwide. This book documents how it started in the shadow of World War 1, how it spread, and how cities, families, and institutions coped with the extremely virulent disease. There are many personal accounts given of different people in different locations, relating how the flu took family members and friends. Much attention is given to the US military bases, as the disease appears to have started in these camps by returning soldiers from Europe and then sread like a wildfire on a parched prairie. The death statistics are astounding and alarming. The great flu pandemic of 1918 is charted and described from start to finish in this book. Since we have not experienced anything like it in the past nearly 90 years, it is hard for the reader to imagine the chilling horror and rank death that prevailed that deadly fall and winter of 1918. I read this book because of interest in the current bird flu epidemic in China and SE Asia. Could we have another killer strain of influenza ravage the world as the "Spanish Flu" did in 1918? The answer to that question is unfortunately, "Yes". As explained in the book, viral flu RNA intermingles in the lungs and organs of humans, ducks, chickens, and pigs. Strands of RNA are shared and mingled and it is quite possible that another killer strain of influenza could terrorize the world. With international travel more available than ever, the virus could be transported worldwide in days, bringing death to every part of the globe. Since a vaccine takes time to make and distribute, a new devastating human flu strain could kill untold millions (perhaps billions) of people before treatment is available. This book is a chilling reminder that despite our technological advances in medicine, we are still extremely vulnerable to viral disease epidemics (witness HIV virus, Ebola virus, etc.). Yes, it could happen again, and that thought sends chills through my being. A very interesting book that will get you thinking about our current threat of a mutating bird flu. Jim "Konedog" Koenig

When the Spanish Lady flew across the World

This is the companion book to the television documentary on PBS "The American Experience". It provides a concise history of the great flu pandemic of 1918. Flu mostly kills the old or unhealthy; this "Spanish flu" was most dangerous to those between 15 and 40, in the prime of life (p.16). It attacked suddenly and killed quickly. Medical science was helpless, it did not even know this was a virus. Scientists today don't know why this "Spanish flu" was so deadly or how to create a vaccine against it in time (p.220). Pathologist recovered the remnants of an RNA virus to identify it (p.223). The "Spanish flu" closely resembles a pig flu isolated in 1930. There is an interaction between humans, pigs, and fowl in this disease. This was the worst epidemic in American history. Chapter 1 begins in Spring 1918 with influenza deaths in Fort Riley Kansas. The civilian influenza deaths weren't noticed until later. There was an epidemic of influenza in April 1918, people began to call it "Spanish influenza". Being at peace, Spain had no censorship about civilian life (p.37). The warring nations had shortages of food, clothing, soap, coal, and other essentials. (p.38). Plus stress and hardship? Chapter 2 explains that flu virusses live in birds, but require another animal, like pigs, to spread it to humans. These virusses are constantly changing, creating a problem for the human immune system. Chapter 3 deals with rumors, such as the spread of germs by the enemy Germans (p.67). If the author know more of history and sabotage she wouldn't mock this false idea. "The Enemy Within" by Henry Landau. This "Spanish flu" mostly killed "young, vigorous, robust adults". Before WW II more soldiers died from disease than battle. Chapter 4 tells of the pandemic around the nation and across the world. Chapter 5 describes the failures of medical science to develop a vaccine. Test "volunteers" from a prison could not get the flu, but their doctor did, and died (pp.110-111). The shortage of doctors resulted in the use of dentists and veterinarians (p.115). This epidemic disrupted normal life. The worst-hit city was Philadelphia Penna (Chapter 6). Dead people were put out in the streets to be taken to mass graves, like during the Black Death in XIV century Europe. Fresh air and sunshine helped to cure (p.143). Then NY became "the deadliest place in the nation" (p.158). Sometimes the "dead" returned to life (p.169). The flu epidemic seemed to be accelerating (p.174). This flu epidemic seemed to end The Great War (Chapter 8). The cold weather of November was followed by a decrease in flu victims (p.177). But there were after-effects from this flu (p.184). This book repeats the Big Lie that the "punitive peace" of WW I caused WW II. This "peace" did not result in the occupation and purge of the German ruling class of aristocrats and corporate leaders. They did not make this mistake after WW II (p.189). President Wilson was handicapped by his disease (pp.190-191). Insurance actua

Let's Hope History Doesn't Repeat Itself

With news of bird flu in China mutating and puzzling scientests, I thought it timely to learn more about the 1918 flu pandemic. This book conveys the worldwide effects of the influenza and suggests some possible origins. The frightening part is how inadequate the medical structure and the governments were in coping with the massive outbreak. At first I had to read the book in small doses, as it was depressing. Gradually I was caught up in the personal tragedies and the international scope of the pandemic and couldn't put the book down. Piecing together individual's stories and interspersing research, the narrative seems fragmented at times. This makes me want to read further on the topic.

A striking account

Influenza 1918 provides a striking account of one of the worst seasons of death in American history, exploring the actions of public officials, a panicked public, and those 675,000 who died. Influenza 1918 is more than just a historical narrative; it examines the medical community's response and the elements which made the flu so deadly on so many levels.

chilling and inexplicably forgotten

Since this epidemic is almost forgotten today, it is chilling to see the entire scope of it. Like millions of Americans, I heard in childhood about the horrors of the 1918 flu, which nearly killed my grandfather (the disease skipped over two small children and a sick wife, and attacked a healthy 33-year-old man, making him a semi-invalid for the rest of his life). My mother told me stories of being taken to the doctor's office, and seeing literally hundreds of people waiting for whatever treatment was available. Now, it seems, she might have been underestimating rather than overestimating its effect. The book is stunning and ought to be required reading, if not in American history classes, certainly in those pertaining to epidemiology.