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Origin and Background
Origin and Background
The Spanish Flu, also known as the "Spanish Lady" or "The Purple Death", was a variation of the H1N1 Virus: a type of Influenza A Virus. This sickness emerged in 1918 during World War 1. The Spanish Flu falsely led the idea that it was discovered by Spain, a neutral country during the war. Though the name likely derived from Spain, the illness itself was originated in the United States, possibly in the state of Kansas.
First Wave (March 4 1918)
First Wave (March 4 1918)
This was when the pandemic was conventionally marked as the beginning. As the U.S. entered World War 1, more cases spiked America, leading to rise in infected patients.
Second Wave (August 1918)
Second Wave (August 1918)
This period was the deadliest and most devastating periods during the pandemic. It peaked during October-November of 1918. According to Wikipedia, the troop across the country caused it to spread even faster than before.
Third Wave (Late November 1918)
Third Wave (Late November 1918)
Cases of the Spanish persisted into 1919. This was the third wave of the pandemic and the end of it as well. In Late November, cases slowly begin to rise, and still spread all over the country.
Symptoms
Symptoms
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the Spanish Flu was a series of outbreaks during the first World War. Lots of common symptoms in our present flus are a lot similar to the Spanish Flu's symptoms. Signs like dry coughs, sore throat, and a runny nose all also contribute as well. More specific ones include: cyanosis (blue skin, lips, or nails), internal bleeding, pulmonary edema, and extreme tiredness (fatigue).
Impact and Fatality
Impact and Fatality
Experts suggest an estimate of around 500 million people were infected during 1918 pandemic. During that time, this was a third of the world's population. "50-100 million were said to have died from the sickness, also including the 675,000 people in the U.S." authors from the Cleveland Clinic state. There were many different factors as to why the Spanish Flu was so deadly, including the wartime conditions that could have made it more contagious, as well as the limited healthcare options and immune factors that played a significant part
Significance of the Spanish Flu
Significance of the Spanish Flu
The amount of deaths and casualties during this pandemic led to becoming one of the deadliest pandemics ever recorded. It effected mortality rates, affecting life expectancy, public health infrastructure, and even more awareness towards diseases and their impacts. The Spanish Flu is still studied today to better develope vaccines and aids with the technology that was not their during the pandemic.
Learn More: Paho: The Purple Death
References:
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2025, May 11). Influenza pandemic of 1918–19. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/influenza-pandemic-of-1918-1919
What was the influenza pandemic of 1918?. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21777-spanish-flu
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, March 20). 1918 Pandemic Influenza Historic Timeline. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/pandemic-timeline-1918.htm
Purple death: The great flu of 1918. PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization. (n.d.). https://www.paho.org/en/who-we-are/history-paho/purple-death-great-flu-1918
Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, June 14). Spanish flu. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu
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