The Spaniard is a flu pandemic that swept the world 100 years ago and claimed more lives than died on the fronts of World War I. The pandemic was caused by a virus of avian subtype AH1N1 origin. In the years 1918-1919, it contributed to the deaths of about 50-100 million people on all continents.
The Spanishappeared suddenly and ran in waves. The first wave ofSpanish flucame in the spring of 1918. The number of cases was moderate and the death rate due to complications was not high. Most of the sick were elderly people.
The second wave came in the fall of 1918. The disease took a very rich toll. The virus mainly targeted people between the ages of 20 and 40. Deaths of patients in this age group accounted for almost half of those who died from influenza during the pandemic.
The third wave occurred at the beginning of 1919. She was softer, but still extremely dangerous. People aged 5-14 were the most numerous group of patients. The highest mortality and incidence of pneumonia were recorded among people aged 25-40.
Spaniard and her victims
During the pandemic, the number of deaths in different countries of the world varied. In the USA, 700,000 people died from complications after the flu. people. In England, a Spanish woman killed 200,000. people, and in India 5 million. people. Even Alaska was affected by the disease. 176 Inuit died out of 300 in Nome. There is no data that would show what the Spanish woman has harvested in Poland.
The Spanish pandemicis considered to be the most dangerous in history because it has had an extremely high death rate among adults. The disease also caused unimaginable social and economic losses. But the pandemic also prompted research to understand the etiology of influenza.
Deciphering Spanish was only possible in the era of molecular biology. Scientific expeditions have set out to Alaska to collect lung tissue samples from the frozen and stored bodies of flu victims. Research on the molecular pathology of the Spanish flu virus was initiated by Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger and his team from the Department of Molecular Pathology of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC.
One of the characteristics of the 1918 pandemic was its extraordinary virulence, i.e. virulencemicrobes, the ability to penetrate, multiply and damage body tissues. As a result, the course of the disease was more severe and resulted in more complications in the form of severe pneumonia.
Research on Spanish has been conducted in many countries around the world. They proved that the strains of the virus that attacked in London and Alaska are 99% similar.
History repeats itself
At least ten influenza and flu-like virus pandemics have been registered since the end of the 16th century. Maybe not all of them were caused by the flu, but at least four of them occurred in the 20th century.
An important feature of influenza viruses is that from time to time new subtypes appear in nature with completely different properties of surface antigens than before, and these new subtypes cause influenza pandemics in humans.
During pandemic periods that occurred every 10-50 years for at least several centuries, the number of deaths dramatically exceeded the average. Recently, it is estimated (only for the US) that the result of the next flu pandemic may be up to 207,000. deaths, over 730 hospitalizations, 42 million outpatient visits and 47 million additional diseases. The economic impact is estimated at $ 70-170 billion.
It is difficult to predict the next pandemic at present, but the genetic and epidemiological characteristics of past pandemics can optimally guide both surveillance and research.
It is certain that there will be an epidemic of flu every year. Determining this fact depends only on efficient disease monitoring.
It is also very likely that the onset period will begin in late winter and will last a month or two.
However, in addition to these general principles, predicting the exact time of the flu onset, size and severity of illness, is a huge challenge for people and institutions responsible for the he alth of the public.
Coronavirus Pandemic
Worth knowingThe term influenza was introduced by Italians during the epidemic in 1504 and recognized it as a disease dependent on the influence of the stars. In later years, researchers concluded that the disease appeared as a reaction to cold.
About the author
Anna Jarosz A journalist who has been involved in popularizing he alth education for over 40 years. Winner of many competitions for journalists dealing with medicine and he alth. She received, among others The "Golden OTIS" Trust Award in the "Media and He alth" category, St. Kamil awarded on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, twice "Crystal Pen" in a nationwide competition for journalists promoting he alth, and many awards andawards in competitions for the "Medical Journalist of the Year" organized by the Polish Association of Journalists for He alth.
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