1918 Spanish Flu
Viral Infection
Common and Scientific Name
Common Name: The Flu Pandemic, Spanish Flu, The Flu
Scientific Name: Viruses typically do not have a scientific name because they are not living organisms, but scientists name viruses after the disease they cause. Influenza Virus is it's official name.
Who did it affect?
Symptoms:
- Chills
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Lungs filling with liquid making it hard to breath and/or suffocate
- Skin becomes pale
How is the Disease Transmitted?
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Can be on surfaces
- Being around someone who has it
How is it diagnosed?
What tests are done? Treated or cured?
The 1918 flu stumped doctors, when the flu hit they didn't know where it came from or how to treat it. In 2008, nearly 90 years later, scientists discovered what made it so deadly: A group of three genes let the virus weaken a victims's bronchial tubes and lungs, which let bacterial pneumonia take over.
How is it Treated?:
The 1918 flu pandemic was not treatable, there were no vaccines or antivirals, or even drugs to treat the flu. Today, you can get yearly vaccines to try and prevent getting sick from the Influenza virus but it is a gamble, each year a different strand comes out and scientists have to guess which one it'd be. There are also medications you can take if you happen to get sick.
Prevention:
Then:
- Some communities imposed quarantines
- Ordered people to wear mask
- Shut down public places including schools, churches, and theaters
- People were advised to not shake hands with people and stay indoors
- Libraries stopped lending books
- Regulations were passed to prevent spitting
Now:
- Cleaning surfaces
- Covering your mouth when you cough / sneeze
- Vaccines
- Staying clear of people who have it
Vaccines play a big role today in preventing an epidemic like the one that happened in 1918