The Spanish Flu Pandemic
6. Read the text and answer the questions below.
The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide – about one third of the planet’s population – and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims. At that time, there were no effective medications or vaccines to treat this killer flu. It is not known exactly where the virus came from; however, the 1918 flu was first observed in Europe, America and areas of Asia before spreading to almost every other part of the planet within a few months.
The first wave of the 1918 pandemic occurred in the spring and was mild. Infected individuals, who experienced typical flu symptoms such as chills, fever and fatigue, usually recovered after several days, and the number of reported deaths was low.
However, a second, highly contagious wave appeared in the autumn of that same year. Victims died within hours or days of developing symptoms, their skin became blue and their lungs were filled with fluid that caused them to suffocate.
Despite its name, the Spanish flu did not originate in Spain. During World War I, Spain was a neutral country with a free media that reported news on the pandemic from its start, while the belligerent countries had wartime censors who covered up news of the flu to keep morale high. Since Spanish newspapers were the only ones reporting on the flu, many believed it originated there.
One unusual aspect of the 1918 flu was that it killed many healthy, young people – a group normally resistant to this type of infectious illness.
Hospitals in some areas were so crowded with flu patients that schools, private homes and other buildings had to be converted into hospitals and in some of these, medical students were employed.
Quarantines were imposed in some communities, citizens were ordered to wear masks and public places, including schools, churches and theatres were closed. People were advised to avoid shaking hands and to stay indoors; libraries stopped lending books and regulations were passed banning spitting.
Questions
1. How many people were killed by the Spanish flu?
2. Where was it first observed?
3. Were the two waves equally strong?
4. What were the symptoms of the first wave?
5. What were the symptoms of the second wave?
6. Why was it called the Spanish flu?
7. Why didn’t the countries at war cover news of the virus?
8. What was an unusual aspect of the disease?
9. What was the situation in hospitals?
10. What measures were taken to fight the disease?
GLOSSARY
to ban: proibire
belligerent countries: paesi in guerra
to cover up: nascondere, insabbiare
chill: (qui) brivido
crowded: affollato
to fill with: riempirsi di
lung: polmone
mild: blando
to recover: guarire
to shake hands: stringersi le mani
to spit: sputare
wave: ondata
