The American Flu

[agstar77]

Strange but true the so-called Spanish flu actually originated in the U.S. It was carried over to Europe by U.S. soldiers during WW1. It too may have mutated to become more virulent. The lessons learned from that outbreak should be our standard.

[blackpowder]

As mentioned before. A very interesting series of articles in Smithsonian magazine from 2017. Eery in fact.

[Herc]

Strange but true the so-called Spanish flu actually originated in the U.S. It was carried over to Europe by U.S. soldiers during WW1. It too may have mutated to become more virulent. The lessons learned from that outbreak should be our standard.

Actually originated in the US? Fact is nobody knows where it originated....

[agstar77]

Actually originated in the US? Fact is nobody knows where it originated....

Avian flu occured in training camps before the yanks went to Europe.

[Guest]

While it's unlikely that the “Spanish Flu” originated in Spain, scientists are still unsure of its source. France, China and Britain have all been suggested as the potential birthplace of the virus, as has the United States, where the first known case was reported at a military base in Kansas on March 11, 1918.
i think you have to believe the scientists

[Herc]

Avian flu occured in training camps before the yanks went to Europe.

Again, nobody knows where it originated.

[blackpowder]

That is of course, correct.
According to historians, the first recorded notice anywhere in the world of unusual flu activity. Reported to US Public Health Service.
January 1918. Haskel County KS.
Next, Mar 4 Army Camp Funton KS.
Depends on the researcher.

[WiltonRanch]

Reason it was called the Spanish flu was because Spain was the first to admit the existence of the flu, and started reporting problem areas and cases. The king of Spain came down with it and hence it got the moniker of the Spanish flu. Before that the American expeditionary force knew full well about the outbreaks within their ranks at home but kept tight lipped when they went to Europe. The flu spread in grande scale on the battlefield. None of the countries would admit they were afflicted as this would show weakness to their enemies. This is where the virus mutated into its deadly form. The first wave was not near as deadly as the first wave. When soldiers returned home that is when the flu killed. Typical of other avian type flu it affected middle aged adults with robust immune systems the most. Most under 18 or over 40 didn’t get sick. There was a generation of grandparents raising their orphaned grandchildren. Sorry for droning on but this is interesting history with so many parallels to today’s situation.

[blackpowder]

Also interesting is early downplaying.
Both then and as recently as a few years ago during pandemic response exercises.

[SASKFARMER]

But the one we are in originated in China and it should be called the Chinese flu.