The most severe pandemic of the history is influenza pandemic history lasts from 1918 to 1999.The Spanish flu was among most severe pandemics, that last about fifteen months .it is also known as 1918 pandemic because it began in 1918 in spring and lasts up to summer of 1991. The causative agent is a type of influenza A virus H1N1. That pandemic took lots of lives and infected around one third population of world of that time.
WHY IT WAS NAMED AS:
There is a great myth that Spanish flu is originated in Spain but apart this first case was appeared in US at military forts as that was war period. But any information and report regarding this virus was censored in united states and some other countries which were involved in war. Even Spain was not affected as other countries, but Spain conveyed each and information which made them look that conditions were first worst there. thus the misunderstanding lead to its name as Spanish flu.
SYMPTOMS:
In the beginning of spring of 1918.there was first wave of infection. symptomized by fever, fatigue and chills deaths cases were low because infected people were recovered by time.
But in the fall conditions became more severe called as second wave of infection. Death cases were increasing day by day due to suffocation as lungs were filled by fluids. because of secondary bacterial infection. virus itself caused hemorrhage in great quantity
TRANSMISSION:
During coughing or sneezing by an infected person tiny droplets from mouth and nose spreads to surrounding people which make them infect as well. As that was war time there were many people in single quarters which made the transmission easier. And due to war the immune systems of people especially soldiers were weak. that was another plus point for causing infection.
MORTALITY:
500 million people were reported as infected. it is known as one the most fatal pandemics.It disappears around in summer of 1919 by multiple serious actions.
People were ordered to wear masks, to decrease social distancing and to wash their hands time by time. And they were quarantined by order of government. Each and every social place was ordered to close.
Soon it was realized that crowds can cause conditions more severe and all were put in lockdown.
CONCLUSION:
Today, as the whole world is in coronavirus global pandemic . similar as the outbreak of 1918 outbreak.
From the studies of 1918 pandemic it was understood that most important factor in disappearing the pandemic was social distancing now a day the crises of COVID-19 we are facing can be decreased by following points of decline of flu pandemic and what did they face and how did it disappear. We must take care of social distancing and quarantined ourselves. And should arrange many awareness session regarding covid-19 precaution.
Author: Rtr. Misbah-e-Zehra
RAC Jamshoro
RID 3271
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