Spanish Flu: Everything you need to know about it and how similar it was to the COVID-19 pandemic
New Delhi : Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, we've all been wondering when will it come to an end. While the vaccine is still a few years away, it does seem a tad bit impossible and we're all slowly losing hope that things will get any better. The end of the COVID-19 era does not seem close as the cases continue to rise and the death toll as well. This global pandemic has a major physical, psychological and economical impact on most countries across the globe.
The global coronavirus pandemic isn't the first health crisis that the world has experienced. In 1918, the world experienced one of the deadliest pandemics, the Spanish Flu. While the exact number is not known, it roughly claimed 50 million lives across the world. The Spanish Flu started as regular flu in the US and slowly managed to spread all over the world and caused immense damage and claimed lives between 1918 to 1920. This "normal" flu managed to overload the healthcare system in those days much similar to what is happening today. The Spanish Flu also led to lockdowns across the world much like today. Schools and theatres were also shut during that time.
This pandemic started in the US but Spain was the most affected by this flu. Just like the coronavirus pandemic, the places around people had to be disinfected and masks were made compulsory. Fines were also imposed on those found stepping out of their homes without a mask. Unlike today, the doctors did not have such advanced medical facilities or advancement. There was no vaccine or drug or test which could contain or control this flu. Soon after the Spanish Flu pandemic was cured the rules were relaxed and people got back to their normal lives but that is when the second wave hit. Researchers also fear a second wave of COVID-19 similar to the Spanish Flu.
The Spanish Flu pandemic came under control only because of herd immunity which people across the world started developing. Scientists and doctor believe that herd immunity against coronavirus could also save our lives just like it did during the Spanish Flu. But it is believed that there is still time for us to get there. Even after taking strict measures and following social distancing and other health protocols, the Spanish Flu pandemic took a lot of time to come to an end but it wasn't completely eradicated from the world. A few cases still pop up every now and then but don't turn into a pandemic. The Spanish Flu virus still continues to mutate and traces of it have been found in other viruses as well. Similar to the Spanish Flu, scientists have claimed that we will never be able to get rid of it but a vaccine or a drug may help us learn how to live with it but until then we have to follow the practices essential to save lives.
