The Influenza Outbreak of 1918

The Influenza Outbreak of 1918 killed thousands of Americans and millions of humans around the world. The outbreak killed ten times more people than the Great War, also known as World War One. Influenza was also known as the “Spanish Flu” or “La Grippe”. The name “Spanish Flu” came from immense casualties in Spain, where 8 million in May alone were killed. In any language, the disease was a global disaster. Across the globe, the influenza started …

…virus, meaning only three percent of all Americans diagnosed with influenza lived. Fifty percent of all American soldiers located in Europe fighting for their country on the fronts died of the pandemic. One fifth of the world’s total population was infected with this virus. Altogether, the total amount of dead worldwide, were twice as many as those in the military that died while fighting in World War One, also known as the Great War.